There’s a critical lack of cheap new cars that are proud to be inexpensive these days. Everything’s aspirational, soft-touch, and as a result, expensive. However, as subcompact cars continue to disappear in America, they’re having a resurgence in Europe. Some 36 years after the original completed its illustrious 42-year lifespan, the Citroën 2CV is coming back.
Even though the original Citroën 2CV only made about 29 horsepower at most and was known for seemingly infinite body roll, it holds a special place in my heart. Designed with the brief of serving as an umbrella on four wheels and with a mission of cheap running costs and excellent ride comfort, it survived war and rationing and a near-decade-long delay to become a legend of post-war motoring. With its flip-up windows, canvas roof, and garden furniture seats, the 2CV was a tremendous expression of utilitarianism. This cheap, originally corrugated machine did exactly what it said on the tin, helped put France on wheels, and became a style icon in its own right.
Perhaps best of all, despite being bathed in austerity, the 2CV was still weird. It had an air-cooled engine at the front, a shifter that came out of the dashboard, and just three nuts holding on each wheel. Its interlinked suspension was genius, with horizontal coil springs connecting the leading and trailing arms on each side to offer a sort of fore-and-aft anti-pitch function. The van variant looked like it had reversed into a shed, the four-wheel-drive variant simply bunged another engine in the back, it was all so much charm in an affordable package. Jason owns one and I totally see why.
Today, Citroën isn’t as weird as it used to be. The marque hasn’t produced a grand hydropneumatically-suspended sedan in more than 13 years, and the funky door ding-mitigating air bumps on older models like the C4 Cactus have disappeared from the range. The Ami quadricycle still flies the flag, but for those who want more than eight horsepower or a top speed above 25 MPH, Citroën doesn’t make anything else that lets its freak flag fly. That’s about to change with the new 2CV.
Although all we have is a dim teaser photo, the resemblance is undeniable. From the proud round headlamps to the silhouette to the fenders, this is a modern interpretation of a 2CV and it seems to be doing things right. I mean, just look at the giant Citroën emblem on the nose, an unmistakable nod to early 2CV models. However, while the original 2CV featured an air-cooled flat-twin, the new 2CV is going electric.
[Editor’s Note: I’m so excited about this. I think what makes me most excited is that, unlike other recent rebirths of iconic old cars, like Volkswagen’s ID.Buzz, this new 2CV is keeping to the original mission of the car: cheap, basic, usable transportation. It’s hard to see what’s going on in this teaser, but I like generally what I see. It does look like that rear wheel is no longer skirted? You’d think in an EV you’d want that. I can’t wait to learn more. – JT]
Understandably, you can expect modest specifications from the new 2CV. While Citroën hasn’t said what range, maximum DC fast charging kW, or horsepower will be, it’s given the world the most important figure: The expected price. We’re talking an electric car built in Europe with a target price under €15,000. That’s under $17,500 at current conversion rates, and that’s including value added tax. Best of all, we won’t have to wait long to see what the new 2CV looks like. If everything goes according to plan, expect a reveal this October at the Paris Motor Show. Oh yeah, this is looking good.
Top graphic image: Citroën, Jason Torchinsky
I hope the new 2CV finds its way to the USA! Chrysler desperately needs models, and Stellantis could market these as a Neon. In fact the original concept of the PT Cruiser was called a CCV (two c v), and was a vaguely 2CV shaped plastic-bodied economy car with a motorcycle engine intended for developing markets.
I would love a new 2CV.