Citroen has unveiled the 2 CV Concept at the 2026 Paris Motor Show. This concept is a neo-retro take on the original Citroen 2 CV, an iconic nameplate in the carmaker’s line-up. Notably, the nameplate returns at the Paris Motor Show 78 years after the original 2 CV was showcased in 1948. The Citroen 2 CV Concept previews a small electric hatchback that’s due in 2028 with a starting price of 15,000 euros.
- Production-spec version, due in 2028, will sit between the Ami and C3
- Takes design cues from the original 2 CV but adds a modern twist
- Quirky interior gets bench seats and does without a dashboard and centre console
Citroen 2 CV concept: All you need to know
At 3.76 metres, the 2 CV concept is shorter than the original model. Additionally, Citroen is aiming for a sub-1-tonne weight to utilise a “cost-effective battery with range tailored for everyday use and low running costs”.
The 2 CV concept’s design takes inspiration from the circular design of the original model. At the front are LED headlamps surrounded by semi-circular DRL signatures, a blanked-off grille with the Citroen badge and a ridge pattern on the bonnet. The numbers 48, 90 and 26 inscribed on the windscreen refer to the years 1948, 1990 and 2026, representing the original model’s launch, end of production for the same and the new concept’s unveiling, respectively. When viewed head-on, the bonnet’s V-shaped design and the thick silver strip are elements reminiscent of the older 2 CV. In profile it is distinguished by a curved roofline that smoothly integrates into the rear section, rounded-off wheel arches with a gloss-black finish and C-pillar-mounted turn indicators.
The 18-inch steel wheels’ design is also inspired by the original 2 CV, and the tyre sidewalls feature Michelin branding and the Citroen chevron pattern. Michelin has developed a technology dubbed ‘universal digital twin of the tyre’, which Citroen says helps the vehicle adapt to its environment and monitor tyre condition continuously. At the rear is a black tailgate that extends towards the bumper, as on the older 2CV. Other details include three horizontal stripes, a short overhang, a tailgate handle, LED lights on either side of the tailgate and a number plate with the 2 CV’s international nicknames on it. Like the front, the rear also features a thick silver strip.
The interior gets a lively white and yellow theme. The floor, dashboard and door panels have a fabric finish with a texture that takes inspiration from cane basketry, while the bench-type seats are wrapped in tartan yellow upholstery. The 2 CV concept employs a cabin design devoid of a traditional dashboard, increasing the sense of space. In place of the dashboard is a single cylindrical structure on top of which a single-spoke steering wheel is mounted, along with a control lever and an 8-inch touchscreen with comic book-inspired graphics and toggle switches under it.
You get a digital driver’s display below the windscreen, a removable 3D-printed storage basket instead of a centre console and straps for door handles. Additionally, there’s a fabric sunroof and ‘Radioen’, a radio unit that can be detached and used as a speaker. Interesting details include a rabbit and tortoise inscription on the accelerator and brake pedals.
Citroen hasn’t revealed detailed technical specifications of the 2 CV concept. However, we do know that the production-spec 2CV will sit between the Ami and C3 hatchback in Citroen’s global portfolio.