An icon returns: Citroen to reintroduce legendary 2CV as a £13,000 retro EV

One of the world's most recognisable cars is set for an unlikely comeback – and this time it'll run on batteries.

Citroen has confirmed it will revive the legendary 2CV almost four decades after production of the original finally ended.

The quirky French runabout, affectionately nicknamed the 'tin snail', became a symbol of affordable motoring after its launch in 1948 and went on to achieve cult status around the globe.

Now the brand is bringing it back for the electric age.

The new 2CV is expected to arrive in 2028 with a starting price of less than €15,000, which could translate to under £13,000 in Britain.

And in a nod to one of the original car's most famous design requirements, it even features a storage compartment designed to carry eggs.

The story goes that Citroen bosses wanted a car capable of transporting French farmers across rough fields without breaking a basket of eggs. It also needed to be cheap to buy, deliver exceptional economy and be simple enough for anyone to maintain.

While the first TPV (Toute Petite Voiture, meaning very small car) design was penned in 1936 with Michelin, prototypes were hidden away when the Second World War broke out, delaying its availability by more than a decade.

Many were even built in Britain, at Citroen’s former factory in Slough, during the 1950s.

The reborn version promises to stay true to those principles, with Citroen describing it as an 'electric, minimalist, affordable, compact and ingenious' vehicle designed to make everyday journeys fun again.

An early concept revealed on the eve of the Paris Motor Show on Sunday showcased a design packed with nods to the original, from its rounded styling to its minimalist interior.

With sales due to begin in 2028, the electric 2CV will arrive exactly 80 years after the model made its debut at the 1948 Paris Motor Show.

Dubbed the 'tin snail' because of its rounded shape and famously leisurely performance, the original 2CV remained in production until 1990, making it one of the most enduring automotive success stories of the 20th century.

More than 5.1 million examples were sold worldwide, including 1.2 million vans. Add in related models such as the Ami, Dyane and Mehari and total production rises beyond nine million vehicles.

The timing of its return is no coincidence.

Having watched rival Renault score a major hit with retro-inspired electric models including the award-winning 5 E-Tech, Citroen is now looking to cash in on its own rich back catalogue as competition from new Chinese manufacturers – all of which lack heritage – intensifies.

The company describes the 2CV Concept as a 'radically contemporary interpretation' of the original and says the production version will remain faithful to the values that made the car such a success.

Citroen boss Xavier Chardon said bringing back the 2CV is about far more than simply recreating a classic.

'It's about reinventing what made it unique: its simplicity, its accessibility and the freedom it offered,' he says.

The new model is expected to qualify for Europe's proposed M1E Class category for electric vehicles measuring less than 4.2m in length. While the regulations are still being finalised, qualifying cars are expected to benefit from financial incentives.

That means the 2CV should avoid classification as a light quadricycle like the tiny Ami and instead offer a more usable driving range of around 150 miles.

Chardon told us it will have a battery range that almost matches the original's distance on a brimmed fuel tank, which was around 180 miles. 

Keeping costs down remains a major priority.

The 2CV is expected to share technology and underpinnings with a sister model from Fiat, helping Citroen hit its ambitious low-price target.

Industry insiders also believe the production model will stay remarkably close to the concept shown this week.

At 3.76m long, the prototype is actually 10cm shorter than the original 2CV.

'This is a deliberate choice to recapture the pleasure and agility of small cars, whilst making driving and parking easier,' the company says.

It will also tip the scales at less than a ton, reducing the demands placed on the battery and helping to keep costs under control.

Visually, the concept leaves little doubt about its inspiration.

At the front, round eye-shaped LED headlamps sit proudly above the bulbous wheelarches, while creases in the bonnet echo the styling of the pre-Second World War TVP.

The curved roofline, flat side glass and sculpted door handles are all unmistakably 2CV, while chunky 19-inch steel wheels feature Michelin tyres with contrasting white branding and Citroen's signature chevrons.

It even features air vents below the windscreen that - like the original - can be manually operated using a circular pulley handle on the dashboard. 

At the rear, the flat tailgate is finished in contrasting black against the striking orange bodywork with a traditional twist handle door release. 

Even the number plate pays tribute to the car's heritage, displaying its various nicknames from around the world.

Practicality remains central to the design.

The bumpers can easily be removed and replaced after minor knocks, while the largely flat body panels should keep manufacturing and repair costs low.

Another charming touch is the roll-back fabric roof surrounded by string lights, though the latter may prove a step too far for the production version due in 2028.

Gilles Vidal, head of design at Citroen's parent company Stellantis says the 2CV Concept is 'very close to production' and the showroom version 'will look even better than the concept car'.

Inside, the minimalist approach continues.

There is no conventional dashboard. Instead, the single-spoke steering wheel connects to a cylindrical housing that incorporates an eight-inch infotainment display and the drive selector and starter button on a stalk.

The starter button bears the words 'en avant!' – French for 'forward' or 'onwards'.

The lighting and indicator controls are mounted on an antenna, while a tiny Smart Vision display behind the wheel serves as the instrument cluster.

There is no traditional centre console either. In its place sits a removable storage basket, while fabric straps replace conventional door handles.

And in another throwback to simpler times, there are no integrated door speakers. Instead, a removable radio is mounted beneath the dashboard.

Citroen has even recreated some of the original car's character.

The horn and electric motor start-up sounds are inspired by those of the classic 2CV, while the numbers 48 / 90 / 26 etched into the windscreen commemorate the original's 1948 launch, the end of production in 1990 and the unveiling of this concept in 2026.

Another sweet detail is hidden in the footwell: a tortoise motif on the brake pedal and a rabbit on the accelerator.

Fans of the iconic French runabout will now be hoping Citroen resists the temptation to water down the concept's charm when it finally reaches production.

The company insists the finished car will be a 'more accessible, lighter and more essential electric car that puts freedom and pleasure back at the heart of mobility'.

And if the concept is anything to go by, one of motoring's greatest icons could be about to stage a very successful second act.

Citroen added: 'A new 2CV, faithful to the spirit of the original but resolutely focused on the uses and challenges of tomorrow. Because an icon cannot be copied. It must be reinvented.'