A love of the past is gripping the world of auto manufacturing. More and more designers are flashing back to current century sensations, reinterpreting the memories, and offering electric solutions for their consumers. Now Citroën is entering this trend, with a feeling for 2CV, another iconic offering for city driving and a reminder of how the 1980 original captured the imagination of the world, under the name ‘tin snail.’ Its innovative start was cemented in 1948 and the final product was a modest bistro on 4 wheels that was accessible and easy to manoeuver. The new adaption will do the same, with modern lighting, weight, and power systems, and a value proposition that can debut under €15,000, on a modest 3.76 metre long, under 1000kilogram vehicle.

The idea also comes as European automakers are struggling to meet demand from budget buyers in the fledgling market for affordable electric vehicles, which may include retro models like the Renault 5 E-Tech. And rather than riding the wave of nostalgia in the aisles of Citroën’s showrooms, the automaker has examined the finer points that made the original 2CV an affordable car while endeavoring to reinvent it for a new era from easily removable bumpers and flat panels to a detachable music system to far-flung storage compartments in an unusual cockpit. It offers the outside nostalgia, inside modern technology: a vehicle that aims to have the quirky appeal of the original 2CV without neglecting that car’s everyday practicality. Citroën’s proposed electric range, modest top speed and expected 2028 arrival in the showrooms suggest a focus on urban chores rather than high-speed thrills.

1. Eye-Shaped LED Headlights

You instantly get the idea that this is a 2CV from the front-end design. The cute round headlights are a giveaway, although these are in fact don’t feature nicely nestled into the smooth front end instead, there are free-standing rotund headlight units proudly sitting above the sharp front wings, housing modern LED lighting arches underneath that appear like cartoon peepers, lending a bit of personality to this rather endearing electric car. This design approach means, Citroën can implement innovative modern lighting tech, while maintaining the silhouette of the original 2CV, which helped earn the original’s cult status. The headlight units thus serve a functional, as well as personality-driven, role and help give this new electric Citroën a cute face that’s reminiscent of the look of its historic 2CV counterpart.

Headlight Design Features:

• Freestanding rounded headlight housings
• Modern LED arches inside each unit
• Pronounced front wings frame the lights
• Playful appearance inspired by the original
• Distinctive silhouette preserves historic character

That is why, from the beginning, the lights on the front wings are in key. Although locating the units further into the front apron might have created a more classic modern appearance, it would also have been a weaker link with the original 2CV. By raising them onto the wings, the presence of distinct components plugged onto a practical and simple bodywork is preserved, and their back-to-basics shapes work well with the overall concept’s focus on minimalistic and affordable mobility. For those who know the model on which it is based, the headlights will have an immediate familiarity; for everyone else, the LED units give the overall design a contemporary edge. It’s an interesting approach to revisiting a heritage product.

2. Historic TPV Bonnet Indentations

Familiar bumps on the bodywork Designed to give the reborn 2CV’s bonnet character, Citroën has used prominent vertical indentations running down the front of the concept. These pay homage to Citroën’s original experimental 2CV designs, loosely referencing the squiggly creases seen in early models. These creases were used to create a number of prototypes for Citroën’s pre-Second World War TPV project (short for Toute Petite Voiture, or ‘very small car’), developed with Michelin in 1936, which were steps to the practical philosophy the production 2CV would later follow, with focuses on simple construction and pragmatic transport. Incorporating some similar details into the modern concept’s bonnet pays homage to those earliest notions.

Bonnet Details Inspired by History:

• Vertical indentations across the bonnet
• References the original TPV project
• Early development began in 1936
• Protruding chrome bumper adds character
• Exposed windscreen wipers retain simplicity

These cues are supplemented by a blown chrome bumper and bonnet, alongside uncovered windscreen wipers that help retain the functional feel of the original prototype. Then there are the creases in the bonnet, too, which add visual appeal without falling into gimmickry through intricate sculpting or surface finishing. That restraint is in keeping with the concept’s broader principle of simplicity and economy, even on a production scale; while the EV 2CV is a modern machine, the body work demonstrates how forward-thinking design can be rooted in the past without being arch or sentimental. In lieu of concessions to silly badges or dumb retro colourways, Citroën has made physical connections to the 2CV’s beginnings, with a bonnet derived from an early experiment in accessible motoring with projects like the TPV from 1936, through to a futuristic runabout concept for our age.

3. Curved Roofline and Fabric Sunroof

One of the most prominent features of the original Citroën 2CV was its tall, sweep-back profile, which was a factor in its legendary “tin snail” nickname. The reborn electric concept keeps that same look, with the arched roof giving the small car a cute shape. The original was built like that for a practical reason, too: it was tall enough for French farmers to wear a hat, even when driving over bumpy farmland. The modern-inspired concept embraces that point but updates it with a wide, roll-back fabric roof that swings up like the classic model’s to expose the cabin to the surroundings – the tastefully simple cuboid base shape is the same, but it opens to allow room to breathe in the city.

Roof Design and Open-Air Features:

• Tall curved roofline retains classic proportions
• Famous tin snail silhouette remains recognisable
• Wide roll-back fabric sunroof
• Open-air driving experience for occupants
• Ambient string lights previewed around opening

This is much more than a throwback stylistic element because the fabric roof is consistent with the concept’s idea of transparency, lightness and enjoyment of everyday life. The ability to roll back the roof gives users a sense of adaptability without the mass of a complex panoramic glass roof. Moreover, the concept also included ambient string lighting around the roof opening, adding a dash of playfulness to the interior. These highlights help give the electric 2CV some extra personality compared to the densly densified cabins and digital concept vehicles that many of its competitors have. While the curved roofline remains the defining link to the original car, the fabric sunroof takes that retro-take on open-air motoring and brings it into the modern day. Together, these elements hint at how affordable electric cars need not come with straight laced minds and borrowsed style.

4. Flared Wheel Arches and 19-Inch Steel Wheels

The reborn 2CV has defined, rounded wheel arches that protrude beyond the small bodywork of the car. They evoke the high-riding position of the original 2CV, which needed to pass over muddy tracks and around farms. The modern version of this familiar form sits on 19-inch steel wheels with deep-centred wheels and small spokes. Michelin tyres with white whitewalls echo the high-flung arches, while the Citroën double chevron sits beneath the rear-mounted spare wheel, repeating as part of the 2CV bodywork. The relatively large wheels give the 2CV a large overall appearance, although the overall length remains just 3.76m, and short front and rear overhangs add to the compact overall proportions.

Wheel and Body Design Highlights:

• Prominent bulbous wheel arches
• Modern 19-inch steel wheels
• Deep-dished centres with small spokes
• Michelin tyres with white branding
• Compact 3.76-metre overall length

The overall length of the concept is said to be ten centimetres shorter than the first 2CV, making it as said to be ideal to both park in tight urban environments and navigate busy roads. The wide arch extensions give the car a strong presence, and the oddball steel wheels help maintain its personality while still carrying the influence of the original 2CV. The white tyre branding and double chevron badge serve to show how minute touches can help make a design cohesive, and unlike those of the original Citroën have been used in a modern proportion and style to give a modern reading of the iconic car’s practical stance. With touches of the past like the visual cues of the car’s long nose and short body combined with the small exterior to ensure it’s a task to do of driving in today’s cities, the car is a balance of yesterday’s nostalgia with today’s urban scale.

5. Removable Bumpers and Flat Body Panels

Functionality and affordability are the two key concepts driving this reimagined 2CV, and those priorities are evident even in the way it looks on the outside. Bodywork is composed of relatively simple, wide panels rather than a multitude of intricate curves and ornate surface decoration. Simple air vents below the windscreen to further reinforce the concept of a car that is easy to build and service, as well as parking sensors to make small bump-ers easier and cheaper to repair. Wherever possible, the bodywork uses bumper segments which can be removed and replaced if they suffer minor parking lot scuffs, rather than the more costly repairs associated with a more complex and intricate body. This reflects Citroën’s desire to keep the price of its new electric vehicle as low as possible.

Affordable Exterior Engineering Choices:

• Broad and simple body panels
• Straightforward vents beneath the windscreen
• Individually removable front bumper
• Separately replaceable rear bumper
• Lower manufacturing and repair complexity

Its simple outer skin is also linked to a proposed starting price below €15,000, and minimising the number of complex panels and making vulnerable elements more straightforward to swap can bring down the cost of construction and repair. That’s a wise plan for a tiny city car that is likely to get parked in awkward spaces or pick its way along busy streets and through low-speed traffic constantly. Sticking to simple and inexpensive to service can be as important as cost of purchase when it comes to keeping an affordable overall transport bill. With the final production spec yet to be revealed, Citroën has not published the true cost of fixing the concept up after a bump, but the principle of simplicity is unmistakable. By combining flat panels with handy parts that are ready for a swap, Citroën is drawing from the good old days of the original 2CV but copying that simplicity for the modern electric age.

6. Minimalist Cylindrical Dashboard

The interior of the reawakened 2CV is clean and simple instead of the trend of giant digital screens and more complex interfaces, as in most modern car design. The driver controls are organized in the window to a singular cylindrical housing connected to the steering column, with only one spoke. It’s an unusual arrangement that creates a identifiable focus in the cabin, while also clustering the main controls into a single relatively small area. The cylinder manages an 8-inch square touchscreen and a Smart Vision display that projects key driving information into the driver’s line of sight. These elements provide today’s digital comforts in a style that’s intentionally minimalist, and also adds a playful touch to the display through comic-book-style hand-drawn graphics for the touchscreen interface, helping to distinguish the navigation and climate controls from more traditional digital dashboard interfaces.

Dashboard Technology and Design Features:

• Cylindrical steering-column control housing
• Eight-inch square touchscreen interface
• Smart Vision display for driving information
• Comic-inspired navigation and climate graphics
• Starter button labelled “en avant!”

The unusual interiors complement the general design of the concept. Rather than clutter the cabin with multiple large displays, Citroën has left a few key functions in a fairly small, unique centre console. The Smart Vision display situates a few elements of driving information in the driver’s line of vision, while the screen keeps maps and settings for air conditioning within reach. The phrase en avant! (French for ‘forward’) is situated on the starter button which forms part of the drive selector stalk another nod to the brand’s French roots. Otherwise, the cabin feels playful without leaning heavily on retro styling or material choices. Combining smaller controls, modern displays and whimsical illustrations, Citroën’s idea of a digital model provides an alternative to increasingly screen-dominated interiors. The concept’s introduction of digital touchpoints and fun graphics offers an approach that balances digital ease of use with an intuitive environment.

7. Detachable Radioën Audio System

Though the reborn 2CV’s entertainment system is likely to be straightforward it does break with tradition as it doesn’t include integrated door speakers. This supports the minimalist ethos of the vehicle and could also reduce its weight, manufacturing costs and the costs associated with the wiring in the vehicle. Instead, Citroën has installed a retro-style audio unit called the “Radioën” beneath the cabin’s instrument panel. When hung from its mounting point, the device acts as a regular car radio allowing music to be heard while on the move. However, the device’s unusual feature is that it can be removed from the mounting bracket and used as a portable wireless speaker a feature that is rarely seen on conventional automotive entertainment systems.

Radioën’s Clever Audio Features:

• Retro-styled detachable audio unit
• Mounted beneath the main dashboard
• Functions as a standard car radio
• Portable wireless speaker when detached
• Reduced wiring and speaker complexity

The Radioën echoes the 2CV’s original practicality by bestowing a single element with multiple roles. Rather than irreversibly installing a traditional hi-fi system throughout the cabin, Citroën has come up with a portable one that can be used inside or outside of the vehicle. Its portability also helps to keep the overall design true to the concept’s mantra of minimal weight and complexity; having the speaker easily portable means users can take their music with them on outdoor adventures or use the unit to take a break during a journey. The retro aesthetic also helps the unit feel at home in the concept’s retro-inspired interior while wireless tech ensures it still feels modern. Final production plans have yet to be revealed but the Radioën stands out as the most straightforward illustration of how the rebuilt 2CV marries a straightforward approach to motoring with clever everyday technology.

8. Plaid Deck-Chair Seats and Wicker Basket Console

Inside the reborn 2CV, the whimsical streak continues with a playful seating arrangement inspired by nostalgic outdoor patio chairs. The seats have pillow padding and are upholstered in pale, yellow check fabric, not unlike outdoor sun seats, making the interior less restrained than many EV cabins. Citroën’s Advanced Comfort technology is also utilized in the seat design, with the passenger seat able to tilt outwards for flexibility and greater cabin volume. A traditional, solid centre console is replaced by a portable picnic basket, imbuing a touch of extravagance and making the cabin perfect for popping the lid on a fizzy drink on a hot summer’s day. And where you might expect to see glossy, glamorous touchscreens and instrument clusters, they’ve gone for familiar materials and inventive counterbalance, with the aim of making every trip seem welcoming rather than costly.

Interior Comfort and Storage Ideas:

• Bright yellow plaid seat upholstery
• Deck-chair-inspired seating with padded cushions
• Advanced Comfort seating technology
• Passenger seat slides outwards
• Removable wicker picnic basket console

But the wicker basket and moveable passenger seat highlight how the approach to interior modularity differs to most other traditional cars. The basket is removable, doubling as a storage feature and a link to the outdoors, picnics and relaxed times that the 2CV is perfectly tailored to. The seat can also be slid outward, opening up more options for varying the seating configuration, and key design elements that reflect on the original 2CV a modern reinterpretation of which includes door pockets for safety eggs (can you imagine!), intended to protect your eggs during trips across ploughed fields. Truly playful details that harken back to the original brief of the 2CV to carry French farmers across ploughed fields and avoid breaking their eggs even in a radically different world. The Interior therefore combines comfort with adaptability and a unique spirit.

9. Whimsical Pedals and Windscreen Etchings

Citroën has adorned the unique 2CV with small design elements that nod to the heritage and fun of the brand. Perhaps the most unique touch is in the driver’s footwell, where the team have etched a tortoise on the brake pedal and a hare on the accelerator pedal. The stark contrast between these two animals serve as a humorous reminder of the different functions of the pedals, while adding character to the functionality of this section of the interior. The historical references continue at the windscreen, where three numbers have been etched into the glass in the form of an etching. The numbers 48, 90 and 26 mark the important moments of the 2CV history, from the reveal of the car to the public, through to the production history, coinciding with the reveal of the new electric concept.

Hidden Details Celebrating Citroën Heritage:

• Tortoise motif etched onto brake pedal
• Hare motif featured on accelerator
• Number 48 marks original debut
• Number 90 represents production’s conclusion
• Number 26 marks electric concept unveiling

What the windscreen numbers do is maintain a more overt link between the 2CV’s history and its future, with 48, recalling its Paris motor show debut in 1948, 90 marking the end of its popular production in 1990, and 26 referring to the electric project’s reveal in 2026 meaning the 2CV lives on in the history of the nameplate. The tortoise-and-hare design cue adds another element of foreshortening, with these animal shapes helping separate out braking and acceleration more clearly in the design language. These may seem like trivial detail but they give the concept a character beyond the styling, as well as how a brand can pay tribute to its past in small nods elsewhere, rather than redesigning something that already exists. For fans of the two-skull icon, they add another layer of intrigue to the 2CV’s design.

10. Affordable Electric Powertrain and Pricing

Beneath the revival’s retro exterior, it’s based around a relatively lightweight electric powertrain, that’s targeted more at commonplace urban driving than it is high performance. Citroën aims to keep the car below 1,000kg, with a top speed of 81mph, and an estimated range of 150-180 miles. That highlights a focus on everyday errands and local driving, and helps keep the new car small, simple and easy to own. This modest level of power is in keeping with Citroën’s original 2CV, which was a low-cost and straightforward practical car for masses of people, rather than a super-performance machine. Instead of offering a rival for performance-oriented electric cars, the new 2CV wants to serve a simple practical purpose, offering a gently-powered and electric model for people who spend most of their time driving around in towns and cities. Its lightweight, simple architecture is key to its affordability.

Electric Performance and Affordability Targets:

• Target weight below 1,000 kilograms
• Proposed top speed of 81 mph
• Estimated range of 150-180 miles
• Target starting price below €15,000
• Planned showroom arrival by 2028

Though the whole concept is far from detailed, Citroën’s ambition for pricing is one of its most significant elements. The company is aiming to undercut €15,000 (about £13,000 in the supplied material) to make electric motoring accessible to a wider slice of European customers. The concept is also destined for entry into the new M1E European category for small electric cars, and straightforward body panels and cheap, simple construction – so the thinking goes could help Citroën meet that pricing aspiration. Citroën is aiming for the car to arrive in showrooms in 2028, though the final production spec, as well as price and range, will be confirmed closer to production. In the meantime, there’s competition in the shape of retro-inspired electric cars like the Renault 5 E-Tech, which makes Citroën’s goal of a cheap, individualistic, zero-emissions city car all the more vital. If the new 2CV can live up to its (cost) promise, it will be one of the most characterful compact city cars on sale.