The 2 Cv is fascinating, but more will be needed to sell it.
The 2 CV is fascinating, but more will be needed to sell it... Displayed by Citroen at the Paris Motor Show, this car faces a tough challenge ahead. Yet everything points to it making an important contribution to the history of electric vehicles as well.
The 2 CV is fascinating, but it must go beyond the nostalgia of its legend
A name and a history filled with glory are not enough to repeat the success of the original. Volkswagen knows this all too well, having largely failed to revive a new version of the legendary Microbus in the new century. It was one of the rare failures of a great designer like Walter De Silva, due to a model overly constrained by past heritage. To succeed, a product must stand on its own merits today, even for generations that don’t care at all about the 2 CV’s history. Can Citroën’s new city car do it? The prospects are good, starting with the price of 15,000 euros, which is even more affordable in many European countries that offer incentives for electric vehicles. And the target market is very clear: consumers who use their cars mainly in cities and surrounding areas, without needing exceptional range.
It is 376 cm long and weighs no more than a ton.
It is a car with significantly reduced dimensions, weight, and thus lower fuel consumption. The concept of the 2CV presented at the Paris Motor Show is 376 cm long, shorter than the original model and 9 cm longer than the electric 500. It aims to keep the weight under one ton. “Less mass means a smaller and more affordable battery, with a range tailored for daily use and low operating costs,” writes Citroën in a statement. This is also thanks to the expertise of an electric vehicle specialist at low prices, such as Stellantis’ Chinese partner, Leapmotor. This is the manufacturer that offers the cheapest and best-selling electric car in Italy in 2026, the T03, which costs 15,900 euros. The Paris Motor Show was too good an opportunity to showcase the 2CV of the new century at home. But we are also eagerly awaiting Fiat’s low-priced electric car, which will be built in Pomigliano just like the 2CV. See you then.
2028.– Also read / Chinese bikes dominate the Paris Motor Show
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