New Citroën 2CV Electric Concept Revealed, With a Roughly £13,000 Price Target for 2028
Citroën has revived the 2CV as a small electric city car concept at the Paris Motor Show, with a showroom version planned by 2028 at around £13,000.
Citroën has brought back the 2CV name as a small, retro-styled electric city car, and that is why the "new 2CV" is being searched for. The car is a concept for now, but it is meant to preview a production model due in 2028.
What the new 2CV is
The new 2CV is a compact electric runabout that borrows from the original "deux chevaux": high, flared wheel arches, a tall curved roof and eye-like headlights. The BBC says the look may still evolve as Citroën develops the design.
Autocar describes the show car as a close preview of the production model. It says the aim is to translate the original 2CV brief, cheap and simple transport, into the electric age.
Chief designer Antoine Gaillot-Drevon said the modern equivalent of the original's farmers could be "nurses in the countryside". Citroën chief executive Xavier Chardon called the car "a modern, ingenious and refreshing response to the mobility challenges of tomorrow".
Price, size and range
The BBC says the car is expected to sell for about £13,000. Autocar reports Citroën is targeting €15,000, which it converts to £12,750. It says that could make the 2CV the UK's cheapest car outright.
To hit that price, Citroën is developing an all-new electric platform, separate from the one under the current C3 and from Stellantis's forthcoming STLA One platform. Autocar says it is designed to take advantage of the EU's proposed small-EV regulations.
The target kerb weight is just one tonne, which would make it one of the lightest EVs on sale. Autocar says that points to a small battery. Official 2CV figures have not been given, but it notes the entry-level e-C3 has a 30kWh pack and 130 miles of range. The retro Renault Twingo has a 28kWh pack and 157 miles.
Why Citroën is going retro
The BBC says European brands are leaning on heritage as Chinese manufacturers compete harder. Renault has revived the 5, 4 and Twingo, Volkswagen has the ID. Buzz, and Ford is reportedly working on an EV widely expected to be called the Fiesta.
Gaillot-Drevon told Autocar: "You can't buy history." Analyst Dr Paul Nieuwenhuis said linking European designs to their history is something Chinese makers cannot easily do. However, the BBC notes that GlobalData's David Leggett thinks nostalgia alone will not be enough to make the car a success.
What it means for you
If you want a cheap electric car, the 2CV is a long way off: nothing is on sale yet, and the 2028 date is a plan, not a confirmed launch. The price is also a target and an expectation, so the final figure could differ.
Watch for further details on the final design, battery size and range as Citroën moves from concept to production.
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Quick answers
When will the new 2CV go on sale?
The BBC says Citroën plans to have a version in showrooms by 2028. The car shown in Paris is a concept and is not ready to go on sale.
How much will the new 2CV cost?
The BBC says about £13,000. Autocar says Citroën is targeting €15,000, or £12,750.
Is the new 2CV smaller than the original?
Yes. Autocar says the concept is 3.76m long, which is shorter than the 1948 original.
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