Citroën Rethinks a Legend with 2CV Concepts in Paris

Citroën is back in the spotlight years later with the 2 CV and 2 CV Fourgonnette concepts at the Paris Motor Show. The company presented its legendary small model, which entered production in 1948, this time as the design study for a fully electric series-production vehicle with a target price of around 15,000 euros and 2028 production in Europe. Located at the center of the 930-square-meter stand at Porte de Versailles, the concept offers a concrete draft of how simplicity and affordability will be interpreted in the electric era.

What is the new Citroën 2 CV concept, and when did it arrive?

Citroën introduced the 2 CV Concept to the world on the opening day of the Mondial de l'Auto, held October 12-18, 2026. Stellantis had shared the first images of six concepts at its "The Night Before" event the evening before the show; among them were also the Alfa Romeo Cuorerosso, DS F3VER, Fiat Multiplay, Opel STX Concept, and Peugeot RCZ Vision. But of these six, the most talked-about was undoubtedly the one with the spaced-out spelling, 2 CV . The brand now writes the model's name as "2 CV" rather than the traditional "2CV"; a small detail, but one that shows the intent is not just a retro nod.

The concept's dimensions may surprise at first glance: length is approximately 3.76 meters , which is shorter than the original 2 CV. Citroën states the target weight as around 1 ton . The logic here is what thirty years of experience clearly tells us: as mass decreases, the battery shrinks, and as the battery shrinks, the price drops. So simplicity here is not a nostalgic gesture, but the very essence of the cost calculation.

How much of the original's character does the design carry?

Viewed from the outside, the concept is full of clear references to the 1948 classic. At the front there are round headlights separated from the body and an LED signature, a sculpted hood, and creased surfaces inspired by the TPV prototypes. The side profile features a vertical windshield, a curved and flowing roof, 18-inch steel wheels, and tires with chevron-logo sidewalls that stand out. At the rear, a recognizable detail from the first-generation 2 CV is repeated: the black hood extending down to the bumper. The fabric soft top above is also a tribute to the original's folding roof.

The interior is the most interesting part for anyone who knows this trade inside out. There is a single-spoke steering wheel, a cylinder-shaped gauge layout, and a Citroën Smart Vision display; the speedometer reflected on the slim screen right in front of the driver evokes the rotating drum clock of the classic era. The Advanced Comfort seats and the front seat that can be pulled forward and extended revisit the idea of a picnic break in a modern way. The Citroën design team's sense of humor is not idle either: the pedals feature a turtle figure for the brake and a rabbit for the accelerator, and the door handles are designed in the form of fabric straps.

Small but meaningful details

It is worth listing a few details that stand out in the concept one by one:

• A portable radio called "Radioën" that can be removed and also used as a speaker.
• A 3D-printed, pull-out storage basket and door compartments suitable for carrying eggs - a deliberate nod to the original's technical specification.
• The figures 48/90/26 on the windshield: 1948 launch, 1990 end of production, 2026 concept debut.
• Even the horn and engine sounds are tuned to recall the original 2 CV.

In addition, the collaboration with Michelin is based on the tire's "universal digital twin" technology: it adapts vehicle behavior to environmental conditions and monitors tire condition. Tire pressure used to be checked by hand; now the car is taking its own tire's pulse.

What does the Fourgonnette concept bring?

Right next to the Citroën 2 CV Concept, the brand also exhibited a second study: the 2 CV Fourgonnette Concept with electric powertrain. This is a reimagining of the panel van known as the iconic "box duck". The brand presents it as a design study exploring the ideas of simple construction, accessible mobility, and practical transport - a passion project. No production decision has been announced yet; so it is unclear whether the Fourgonnette will go on sale. The work of comic book artist and 2 CV enthusiast Jean Luc Delvaux was used in developing one feature of the concept; Delvaux was also present at a signing session at the stand throughout the show.

It is no coincidence that these two concepts stand side by side. On one side, a small electric car that is person-oriented, soft, and friendly; on the other, a van that carries loads and represents crude utility. Citroën's century-long marketing memory has been activated in a way that embraces both ends.

When will the engine and technical data be revealed?

The question that most needs a clear answer is the one that has not yet found an official one: the powertrain. The concept is fully electric and the manufacturer states this openly; but technical data such as engine power, battery capacity, and range are not included in the official press releases. The figures circulating in the press are expectations, not announced values: the plausible scenario points to a battery of around 30 kWh and a range of about 250 km . A battery of this size is enough for a one-ton vehicle; more than that would hurt both the price and the claim of simplicity. Some of the other figures circulating are not confirmed by any official source, so they should not be trusted.

On the pricing side, the official target is around 15,000 euros. While some transfers feature a higher base price before subsidies, this is the official target announced by the brand. To be honest, whether this target becomes reality by 2028 will only be shown by the production version's price list; concepts at trade shows don't have to look cheap, production cars do.

Why did Stellantis choose the 2 CV with this move?

This presentation should be read as part of Stellantis's European strategy. The group clearly showed that it is betting on small and affordable electric vehicles in its return to Paris, and placed the revival of the 2 CV at the center of its showcase. The concept points to the new generation of small electric vehicle segment positioned between the Ami and the C3, and is aligned with the new European E-Car regulations. At a time when cheap Chinese EVs have begun flooding the European market, reviving the 1948 icon as an accessible EV is a strong response, at least symbolically.

The approach advocated by the brand's CEO Xavier Chardon is along the same lines: reinventing the 2 CV is not about copying a car from the past, but about carrying into today what made it unique - its simplicity, accessibility, and the freedom it offered. Compared with the other concepts at the show, this positioning becomes clearer: DS's F3VER, aimed at the luxury segment, and Citroën's 2 CV offer very different takes on the city car for the same group. While Antonio Filosa took over the group's general management, Chardon and design chief Pierre Leclercq presented the concept at the press conference on the Citroën side.

Other important parts of the stand

Citroën's 930-square-meter space was not just about the 2 CV. The stand also displayed a C3 Aircross show car dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the French Navy, the "Outdoor" signature package developed for the Ami, C3 and C3 Aircross, the C5 Aircross Emeraude, and the Formula E GEN4 car. So while the brand showed the door to the future with the 2 CV, it also showcased the health of its current lineup in the same window. In the past, shows would come out with a single star; now the strategy is to tell the whole picture at once.

Is an affordable electric vehicle really possible?

For someone who has been following this industry for many years, the 15,000 euro figure doesn't easily excite; a lot has been said in this band before, and few vehicles have stuck. Still, what sets the 2 CV Concept apart from existing attempts is that the method for lowering costs is clear: less mass, a smaller battery, simpler materials. That's exactly how the original 2 CV was born in 1948; technically humble, but a vehicle that offered what was needed in the cheapest and most reliable way. Citroën is trying to carry this logic into the electric age.

The risks certainly exist. The technical data has not yet been disclosed, the factory choice has not been clarified, and whether the price target will melt away during the production phase remains uncertain. The fate of the Fourgonnette is also unclear. But it must be acknowledged: the most talked-about concept at Paris 2026 was not the most expensive or the fastest one, but the one aiming to be the cheapest. Where the industry's agenda has shifted is news in itself.

In conclusion, the 2 CV Concept is less a nostalgia exercise than a strategy statement. The production version leaving Europe in 2028 will be one of the first major tests showing whether simplicity and an accessible price are still possible in the electric era. Until then, the question before us is simple: can Citroën fit the 1948 handbag philosophy into the 21st century's cost table?

Sources

• CITROËN 2 CV CONCEPT: TIME 2 MEET AGAIN - Stellantis Media
• PARIS MOTOR SHOW 2026: LIFE FEELS BETTER AT THE CITROËN BOOTH - Stellantis Media
• Citroën Brings an Icon Back to Life with the Return of the 2 CV - Stellantis Media
• Stellantis Unveils Six Concept Cars "The Night Before" the Paris Motor Show - Stellantis
• Stellantis bets on small affordable EVs for European comeback - Reuters
• Citroën Shows Their Next Generation 2CV Concept at the Paris Motor Show - Citroënvie
• Citroën reimagines the 2CV Fourgonnette as a BEV - electrive
• Welcome to the new Citroen 2CV - TopGear