Citroën 2CV returns as €15,000 electric concept

Citroën has unveiled an electric concept version of the 2CV and says it intends to have the car for sale and on the road in 2028, with a target starting price of around €15,000, just under $17,000. Electrek reports the model was shown ahead of the Paris Motor Show, which starts this week.

The original Deux Chevaux, French for "two horses," sold millions of units over a 42-year production run that ended in 1990. Its output ranged from nine to 29 horsepower across those years. The name came from France's vehicle tax system, which used an odd formula to work out tax horsepower.

What stayed, and what went

The concept keeps the tall, rounded cabin and the giant fabric roof that rolls all the way open, according to Electrek. It stays small, too: the new car is four inches shorter than the old one. Citroën is aiming to hold weight near 1,000 kilograms, or 2,205 pounds, which Electrek notes is lighter than a current Mazda MX-5.

Some of the old quirks are gone. Electrek describes a less jaunty cockpit, a taller and boxier front hood, much lower wheel arches, roll-down windows and no rear fender skirts. Electrek's read is that the car is not nearly as unusual as the original, though the nostalgia still comes through.

The numbers are still open

No specs have been released. Electrek points to the badge on the back as a hint that power will be modest, and notes the car will slot between the eight-horsepower Ami and the 113-horsepower C3 in size, which sets a rough upper and lower bound.

Battery size is unanswered as well. The original was built as a rural vehicle, meant to carry four people and their luggage across the French countryside, which would argue for enough battery to travel between chargers. A tiny car today reads more like a city car, and those usually need less range. Electrek notes the low wheel arches point to something designed for pavement rather than off-roading.

A sparse cabin, with egg holders

The interior is described as cute but spartan. Electrek reports a small tablet-like screen on the steering column, what looks like a wide driver display across the dash, and a removable radio and speaker module on the passenger side. A basket in the middle nods to the original's design brief of crossing a field without cracking a basket of eggs. The door pockets even have cutouts for a half-dozen eggs, Electrek reports.

Electrek expects Citroën to tone down some of the concept's wilder touches before production, including the vibrant colors and hanging lights. Fewer custom parts would help hold the price down.

Why it matters

The 2CV was France's answer to the Volkswagen Beetle, a cheap workhorse that did what it had to do at a reasonable price. Electrek argues that if Citroën can hit that price and keep any of the original's charm, it could have a classic on its hands.

Citroën has not said when orders open or which markets will get the car first.

• 2CV
• Citroën
• concept cars
• electric vehicles
• Paris Motor Show