- Citroën’s electric 2CV concept features a European-made production car model targeted at around €15,000 by 2028.
- It is slightly shorter than the new Renault Twingo and targets a price drop of around €4,500.
- The retro styling meets a one-ton weight target, but the size, battery life and charging speeds remain confidential.
Renault proves that nostalgia sells electric cars. Its new 5 and Twingo receive good reviews and find many buyers. Citroën has a 2CV-shaped hole in its range, and it is finally remedying it.
This is the Citroën 2CV Concept, which will debut at the 2026 Paris Motor Show. It brings back the familiar shape of the little French icon, swaps combustion for electricity and provides a glimpse of a production car planned by 2028.
Making an expensive car that reminds people of an inexpensive car is pretty simple. But to stay faithful to the original 2CV, the new electric version will be very affordable. Citroën wants to build it in Europe and sell it for around €15,000.
This would even weaken the new Renault Twingo E-Tech. This car was launched with a French starting price of €19,490 before incentives, which reduces Citroën’s target by around €4,500. We still have to know the details of the price of the 2CV, in particular if it includes subsidies (up to €5,700 in France), but the ambition is clear.
They’re also almost exactly the same size. The Citroën is 3.76 meters (148 inches) long, making it just three centimeters (just over an inch) shorter than the Twingo. It is also shorter than the original 2CV and would sit between the Ami and the C3 in its range.
Citroën is aiming for a weight of around 1,000 kilograms (2,205 pounds). Reducing the weight means it can have a smaller battery, which will help keep it affordable. That’s what I think, anyway. Battery capacity, driving range, charging speeds and power output of the future production model have not been announced.
The styling takes inspiration from what people remember about the old 2CV: split round headlights, pronounced fenders, an upright windshield and that iconic curved roof. The hood in particular is inspired by the TPV, the project that foreshadowed the original car.
On paper, this seems like the right approach. The 2CV had such an unusual shape that Citroën did not need to pile on decorative references to make the connection. Keeping these proportions while tightening the lines should do most of the work.
What surprised me were the concept’s 19-inch wheels. They’re steel wheels, which sounds good for a 2CV, but that’s still a lot of wheels for something that’s supposed to be simple and cheap, although they’ll probably shrink for production.
Other exterior details include exposed wipers, air intakes under the windshield and slim turn indicators integrated into the rear roof pillars. It features a contrasting black tailgate that extends to the bumper, as well as very modern looking LED lights.
Inside, Citroën tried to give the impression that the small cabin was open by removing almost the entire dashboard. A cylindrical assembly contains the steering wheel, controls and an “intelligent vision display” that projects information into the driver’s field of vision. There’s also an eight-inch square touchscreen with comic book-inspired graphics, as well as physical controls.
The wide seats benefit from Citroën’s Advanced Comfort technology and the passenger seat extends to allow you to lie down when stopping. You also get a folding fabric roof, removable storage baskets, a removable speaker and fabric door straps.
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Source: Citroën
Citroën says the door pockets are even designed to carry eggs, a nod to the original car’s famous specifications.
To market this car at this price, Citroën benefits from help from the European Union. The manufacturer says the production model will be designed to meet future European rules on electric cars. The European Commission has proposed an M1E category for electric cars up to 4.2 meters long, aiming to freeze regulatory requirements for ten years. The idea is to give manufacturers a more predictable and less expensive path to building affordable electric vehicles.
What I really like about this reborn 2CV is that it comes at a time when car prices are skyrocketing. Like the original, the new electric vehicle will offer people a way to get around when more expensive cars are out of reach. If Citroën manages to do it again, the familiar face will just be a bonus.
Gn bussni
