The Citroën 2CV reappears at the Paris Motor Show not as a nostalgic replica but as an electrified tribute that blends the original’s simplicity with 21st-century technology. The concept, slated for series production in 2028 carries forward design gestures that made the post-war utility car legendary while embracing a silent, zero-emission powertrain.
From TPV to a French folk-hero
The story begins before the Second World War with the TPV project – “Toute Petite Voiture” – spearheaded by Pierre Boulanger. His goal was to create an inexpensive, rugged vehicle for French farmers, capable of tackling uneven fields. When the final model rolled onto the floor of the 1948 Paris Salon, it stunned observers with its unconventional silhouette. The bodywork, crafted by Flaminio Bertoni (later the mind behind the DS), housed a compact air-cooled boxer engine designed by Italian Walter Becchia. The first version displaced 375 cm³, produced a modest 9 CV, and topped out at 65 km/h, yet it consumed remarkably little fuel.
Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s the engine capacity grew to 425 cm³ and then to 602 cm³, delivering up to 29 CV. Those later models adopted a double-body carburetor and electronic ignition, while retaining the front-wheel-drive layout and the iconic umbrella-shaped gear lever that ran through the dashboard. Under the floor, an independent four-wheel suspension with longitudinally linked trailing arms and coil springs gave the car an unusually smooth ride over potholes, a characteristic often described as a comforting roll in corners.
Innovations that became legends
Beyond its mechanical basics, the original 2CV featured several forward-thinking details. Brakes were mounted directly at the differential outlet – an in-board braking system that reduced unsprung weight. Early windshield wipers were driven mechanically from the tachometer cable, a simple yet effective solution. Over more than four decades, the platform spawned numerous variants: the four-wheel-drive Sahara equipped with two independent engines (one front, one rear) for desert crossing, utility vans, and a slew of special editions in the 1970s and 80s. Colorful models such as the Spot the bordeaux-and-black two-tone Charleston and the rally-inspired France 3 celebrated the car’s diverse heritage.
Production wound down in July 1990 at the Portuguese plant in Mangualde after more than 5 million units had rolled off the line, encompassing sedans, vans, and countless derivatives. The end of manufacturing marked the close of an era, but the 2CV remained a cultural icon, its minimalist philosophy inspiring generations of designers.
The electric homage for a new era
The newly unveiled concept pays homage to that legacy while shedding the aging boxer engine. Beneath the chassis sits a compact electric powertrain that preserves front-wheel drive and benefits from a retuned suspension system designed to swallow modern road irregularities. Visually, the car recalls the 1970s silhouette: strip-styled hoods, vent windows tucked under the windshield, blade-like bumpers detached from the body, and angular square headlights that echo the era’s aesthetic.
Inside, the cabin is dominated by clean white plastics and a minimalist dashboard centered around a single-spoke steering wheel. The classic umbrella-shaped gear selector makes a comeback, while a picnic-basket-shaped storage bin, a pull-out radio, and a digital interface that renders the telephone function as a nostalgic rotary disc add playful touches. Even the door pockets conceal integrated egg holders, a wink to a 1930s challenge that once tested the car’s practicality.
Citroën positions the upcoming model as an “impulse purchase” – a vehicle that buyers choose for its character as much as for practicality. By marrying the beloved visual language of the original 2CV with an electric drivetrain, the brand hopes to offer an accessible, joyful mobility solution that feels both timeless and contemporary.
