Citroen 2CV Concept Preview

​Introduction - electric Citroen 2CV Concept

The original 2CV was one of the cleverest cars ever made because it was cheap, comfortable and brilliantly practical. It was so good, and so popular that more than 5 million were built in the 42 years it was in production. It gave people simple, affordable, practical transport. If Citroen can bring that spirit into the electric age, this could be much more than a familiar face.

At just 3.76 metres long, the new Citroen 2CV concept is actually shorter than the original, with familiar round headlights, familiar profile, ridged bonnet, upright windscreen and stacks of personality - its the kind of car you'll absolutely have to name. It's not intended to be a straightforward retro remake like the Renault 5, but there's no mistaking the family resemblance.

Best of all, Citroen is targeting a price of around €15,000, equivalent to roughly £13,000 in the UK when the production car arrives in 2028, although I reckon it'll be more like £14,000 to £15,000 by the time it gets here.

That could make it a fascinating alternative to the Renault Twingo E-Tech, not to mention the Dacia Spring, Leapmotor T03 and BYD Dolphin Surf. It may even tread on the toes of the excellent Citroen e-C3, which already offers practicality and charm for well under £20,000. 

In this orange colour, I think it looks like a giant apricot on wheels! With those little frog eyes and rounded wings, it’s got such a cheerful face, and you couldn’t mistake it for anything other than a 2CV.  Whether it’s cuter than the electric Renault Twingo is a tougher call - I think I’ll leave that one to you, so head over to YouTube and watch our first look video and let us know what you think in the comments.

Range, battery and charging

As I said, this is a concept so it will come as no surprise that Citroen hasn't confirmed battery size, range or charging speeds for its new electric 2CV.

But we do know quite a lot about the thinking behind it, and that's arguably more interesting. Citroën wants to keep the production car's weight down to around one tonne. That's remarkably light by modern electric-car standards, and it should mean the 2CV won't need an enormous battery to deliver a useful everyday range as it'll be very efficient.

There are rumours of a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery of around 20kWh, which I suspect is about right. And given that costs are crucial to the electric Citroen 2CV, an LFP battery is much more likely. If that proves accurate, I'd expect something in the region of 100 to 130 miles of WLTP range from a full charge, but this is all speculation. I'll let you know as soon as Citroen gives us the confirmed info, honest!

Now, I can already hear some of you saying that isn't enough, but this is obviously a concept that's showcasing an affordable EV for drivers who don't do huge mileage. It'll be bought by people who live in the suburbs or the cities, and who do the school run, commuting, shopping, visiting friends and all those everyday journeys that rarely involve travelling hundreds of miles. For those jobs, a modest battery and range like this makes perfect sense, if Citroen put a big battery in then it'd make the 2CV a lot more expensive, which would defeat the whole point - and I'll remind you once again that in the UK we drive on average just 20 miles a day.

Charging details are still a mystery, too. There's no confirmed DC rapid-charging speed, charge-port location or information about features such as a heat pump, vehicle-to-load or vehicle-to-grid technology. I suspect that it will only come with AC charging (hopefully of up to 11kW) as standard, but I'd also hope that Citroen would offer optional DC charging for those drivers who wanted it - even if it's only at speeds of 50kW. That's what I'd do if I were in charge of the purse strings and product development at Citroen, anyway! 

Practicality and boot space

One of the things that made the original 2CV so special was its practicality. Famously, it was designed to carry four people and 50kg of luggage, while being comfortable enough to cross a freshly ploughed field without breaking a basket of eggs. It's all about les oeufs! 

The new electric 2CV follows the same philosophy, and while Citroen wouldn't tell me how big the boot is, I could see that the 2CV uses its space very cleverly. This concept car is just 3.76 metres long, making it considerably smaller than many of today's small cars. It's actually even smaller than the original 2CV.

Interior, styling and technology

This is where the new 2CV really won me over. From the outside, it's unmistakably inspired by the original, with those wonderfully distinctive round headlights, upright windscreen, rounded wings and sweeping bonnet. But Citroen hasn't simply copied the old car. There are modern LED lights, sharper surfaces and 19-inch steel wheels wearing specially developed Michelin tyres.

The concept's bright orange-red Infra Red paintwork (it's definitely orange, and not red...) gives it bags of personality, while the fabric sunroof is another lovely nod to the original.

Inside, I love how Citroën has kept things simple without losing the fun. The single-spoke steering wheel and control lever nod to the original, while the eight-inch touchscreen hasn’t swallowed the dashboard. Then there’s the yellow tartan, soft strap door handles and a basket I’d reserve for emergency croissants - after all the Renault 5 has its baguette basket. 

There are also touches of beige, inspired by old-fashioned Bakelite, and textured materials that give the cabin a warm, welcoming feel. Then there's the detachable radio, brilliantly named Radioën, which doubles as a portable speaker. 

The eggs for that all important suspension test even have their own home in the door pockets, while little automotive easter eggs pop up around the car like a tortoise on the brake pedal and a rabbit on the accelerator - please, please keep those on the production car Citroen.

It's all designed to save cost but also to look cute and thoughtful rather than cheap, and Citroen has absolutely nailed that brief.

Will all these features make production?  I suspect not, sadly, but I reckon Citroen will deliver decent space for four people and a useful boot, together with lots of cute and quirky design touches, which will set it apart from rivals like the BYD Dolphin Surf.

Motors and performance

Citroen isn't chasing performance figures with the new, electric 2CV. In fact, the company's chief executive, Xavier Chardon, has made it clear that this is intended to be deliberately simple and not over-engineered. 

Some reports suggest the production car could have an electric motor producing less than 100hp, although nothing is official. It's very likely that it'll use a single electric motor driving the front wheels, just like the original 2CV, and while there are no official 0–62mph figures. And frankly, I'm not particularly bothered about it! The Dacia Spring isn't quick but it's still a great, sensible little EV, so even if the electric 2CV ends up doing 0-62mph in some 12.0 seconds or so, I think that'll be fine. 

After all, the original 2CV had 9bhp and a top speed of 31mph. Nobody bought it for its performance! What mattered was its comfort, simplicity and ability to cope with almost anything.

With Citroen saying that the new electric model will prioritise low weight, ease of use and comfort - with a particular focus on making everyday driving enjoyable - I'm optimistic that this new electric 2CV will retain much of the original's heart and abilities. I mean, if it manages to recreate even a little of the original car's wonderfully supple ride, I'll be delighted.

Citroen hasn't neglected the fun details when it comers to driving either and has created an array of sounds for the horn and electric motor that echoes the original 2CV, which I thought were utterly charming.

Pricing and on sale date

Now we get to the really exciting part. Citroen is aiming for a starting price of around €15,000 when the production car arrives in 2028. That translates to roughly £13,000, although it's important to remember that UK pricing hasn't been confirmed and exchange rates don't necessarily reflect what we'll pay in showrooms so I reckon it'll be more like £14,000 to £15,000 when it eventually goes on sale in the UK. That puts it below the Citroen e-C3, and effectively makes the 2CV a replacement for the Citroen C1 city car that disappeared a few years ago.

The new 2CV has also being designed around Europe's proposed new E-Car regulations, which are intended to encourage manufacturers to produce smaller, less expensive electric cars. A bit like a Japanese kei car, but for Europe.

The production model of the Citroen 2CV is expected to use a new Stellantis architecture, and reports suggest it could be built at the group's Pomigliano d'Arco factory in Italy, although Citroen has only officially confirmed European production. Importantly for British buyers, right-hand drive has reportedly been considered from the outset.

As for when it goes on sale? Well, that's also TBC I'm afraid, but I reckon we'll see the production version of the electric Citroen 2CV in 2027, with sales starting in 2028. 

Verdict

As a kid, we often holidayed with friends in France who had a 2CV. I absolutely loved that car. So yes, I was probably always going to fall for this one. But the original wasn’t loved - or bought in such vast numbers - just because it looked charming. It was loved because of all the other stuff it did so well. If Citroën can make this comfortable, practical and affordable, whilst keeping that sense of fun with  those quirky touches it might do the same thing again. For me, this is Citroen at is very best, putting a smile on our face at an affordable price - and I can't wait to drive one to see if it passes the egg test.