- Citroën has revealed the 2CV concept at the Paris auto show, along with a van version called the 2CV Fourgonnette.
- The 2CV concept references the classic French people’s car with a retro design, but under the skin is an electric powertrain.
- The cabin is eccentric, with tiny lanterns strung up around the ceiling and screens with graphics inspired by comic books.
Citroën is dipping into its back catalog and reviving its most iconic, influential car. At the 2026 Paris auto show, the French automaker revealed the new 2CV concept, paying faithful tribute to the original 2CV, which Citroën built nearly four million of during a production run that lasted over 40 years. But this new 2CV isn’t just some nostalgic flight of fancy, but previews a production model that will join Citroën’s lineup in 2028.
The 2CV concept is positively adorable. The shape is bubbly and the face is cheerful, with headlights composed of LED arches that sprout up from the pronounced fenders. The retro vibes continue with the chrome bumper that protrudes from the front bodywork, and a series of vertical lines that are indented in the hood. Even the door handles look old-school, dainty little metal units instead of the flush, electronic handles that have become commonplace today.
The 18-inch steel wheels feature a large dish in the center surrounded by an array of small spokes, and small turn signal indicators are mounted on the C-pillar. The rear fascia is finished in black, contrasting with the vibrant orange paint job, and is bookended by thin LED taillights.
The cabin is whimsical in a way that only a French automaker could accomplish. The bench seating looks like a deck chair, with puffy cushions upholstered in yellow plaid cloth, while the center console consists of a removable wicker basket, making it feel as if you're on a picnic while driving. Above, there are tiny lanterns strung up around the edge of the opening created by the large fabric sunroof. The door panels are almost entirely devoid of decoration, save for straps in place of traditional door handles.
The dashboard is incredibly simple, with a cylinder that extends off of the steering column that holds the main 8.0-inch touchscreen and a thin display running at the base of the windshield. The screens run a particularly unique user interface inspired by comic books. Everything has a hand-drawn look to it, from the climate controls to the speedometer and even the navigation. The sound system hangs onto the underside of the dashboard, looking like a classic radio, and it is detachable and doubles as a speaker.
While the original 2CV made do with tiny air-cooled engines, this new 2CV will be powered by electricity, although no details were provided about the powertrain. Citroën wants the new 2CV to break from the trend of cars growing larger and heavier with each new generation. The car measures just 148 inches long, five inches longer than a Fiat 500e, but around four inches shorter than an original 2CV. Citroën says it wants to keep the weight under around 2200 pounds, which will allow for a smaller and less-expensive battery. Citroën says it is targeting a starting price of around 15,000 Euros for the production model, around $16,700 at current exchange rates.
Along with the regular 2CV concept, Citroën also showed off the 2CV Fourgonnette concept, turning the diminutive city car into a van. The original 2CV had its own cargo variant, so it only makes sense to turn the new electric version into a cutesy commercial vehicle. Few details were provided on the 2CV Fourgonnette, but it has the same front end as the passenger version, with a large box mounted behind with roll-up doors on either side. Hopefully, when the regular 2CV enters production in the next couple of years, the Fourgonnette comes with it. Sadly, neither will make their way to the United States, so we’ll be left to admire their adorable designs from afar.
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Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.