Can a semi-autonomous vehicle manage one of Europe's busiest and most unpredictable traffic spots?

Back in 2014 I headed to the Paris Motor Show and the final stretch took me along the Champs-Elysees circling the famous Arc de Triomphe.

With 12 roads meeting at one point, no lane lines and right-of-way rules favoring incoming traffic, the circle ranks among the most intense urban drives anywhere. I promised myself I would skip it forever after that trip.

Twelve years later I returned to the Paris Motor Show by Eurostar, this time with a fresh twist.

Denza, the premium performance arm of BYD preparing to enter the UK market, decided to test its God's Eye City Navigation on Driving Assistant system on France's best-known roundabout.

The vehicle chosen was the striking Denza Z9GT, which looks much like a Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo from a distance.

The model comfortably seats four adults over six feet tall, offers generous cargo space and delivers 1,582 horsepower along with 1,240 Nm of torque, reaching 62 mph in 2.25 seconds.

BYD's Flash Charging technology allows a 10 to 97 percent charge in just nine minutes.

Setting the car aside for a moment, the real test was the system itself.

The CNOA setup relies on one LiDAR unit, 11 cameras including side, surround, front and rear views, three radar units and 12 ultrasonic sensors.

It operates at Level 2+ rather than full autonomy, handling steering, braking and acceleration while still requiring constant driver attention and readiness to intervene.

During the 3.3-mile Paris run the driver stayed alert, touching the wheel every 10 to 15 seconds as prompted.

The intelligent assistance proved sharp, mapping its own path through the traffic on the infotainment display in an impressive way.

The Champs-Elysees section passed without issue, yet the Place Charles de Gaulle proved far more demanding.

Amid the mix of cars, vans and cyclists the Z9GT performed steadily until the exit point, where it hesitated and the driver had to step in with a sharp right turn.

Later, on a side street a Fiat 500e halted suddenly; only after its reverse lights came on did it become clear the car was backing into a space, leaving our driver to reverse slightly to avoid contact.

Although the Fiat driver skipped proper signaling, this everyday situation highlights the kind of anticipation self-driving systems still need to master.

We returned without incident and the experience proved less stressful than expected, yet it also confirmed that fully independent driving remains some distance away in this corner of Paris.

Verdict: BYD and Denza deserve credit for attempting such a bold test with pre-release software. Over time the system will need to handle every possible situation, including predicting unpredictable human actions.

Note: The God's Eye City Navigation on Driving Assistant system, already installed on the Z9GT, will reach the UK through an over-the-air update in 2027.