Some cars are remembered for speed, some for luxury, and the Citroën 2CV is remembered for looking like a startled umbrella on wheels. Now it’s back. Citroën rolled out an electric 2CV concept at the Paris Motor Show, and it’s hard not to smile at it.
The original had a wonderfully practical brief. Citroën began work in the 1930s on a car meant to get French farmers off horse-drawn carts, and the result reached the Paris show in 1948. According to automotive legend, it was supposed to carry a basket of eggs across a ploughed field without breaking any. It wasn’t fast, it wasn’t glamorous, and nobody cared. It stayed in production for 42 years and ended up everywhere, from village markets to student road trips held together with optimism and gaffer tape.
The electric revival keeps that personality. The concept is painted red and sits high and upright like a pram that has found confidence. Its round headlights still give it a wide-eyed, mildly surprised face. Inside there’s a bench front seat, sunny yellow trim and very few controls. The 8-inch screen is the only clear sign that this 2CV comes from the 2020s rather than the era of berets and bread runs.
The best part may be the roll-back fabric roof, one of the original’s great features. On the classic car it meant you could carry tall things, enjoy the sun, or drive while wearing a hat. On the new one, it means you can do all of that silently.
Citroën has also packed the concept with fan-friendly details. The radio detaches and works as a portable speaker, presumably for picnics. The accelerator has a rabbit on it and the brake has a tortoise. It also plays the classic horn and a retro-inspired start-up sound. It’s charming in a way that big touchscreens never are.
Citroën is aiming for a starting price of around €15,000, which would make it one of the most affordable EVs in Europe. For now, that’s a target, not a price tag. The company hasn’t announced range, battery size, performance or a launch date, and concept cars have a habit of becoming more expensive on the way to production.
Renault has already shown that nostalgia sells with the electric R5 and Twingo, so Citroën is entering a busy retro party. If the production 2CV keeps the cheerful design and the low price, it may give buyers what the original always offered: a car that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
