Citroën Teases About Revamping the 2CV

Since the last 2CV rolled off the assembly line on July 27, 1990, we’ve heard many rumours of Citroën bringing a modernized 2CV to market.

While other brands have succeeded going retro with resurrections of small cars, (Fiat 500, BMW Mini and Volkswagen with the Beetle), Citroën in the late 1990’s went so far as to make a full-size model nicknamed 2CV 2000, but the project didn’t go any further.

In 2019 when Citroën was celebrating it’s 100 anniversary, then CEO Linda Jackson made a the following statement;

^{“We evolve our designs by looking at the past, but what I don’t want to do is become a manufacturer that produces retro. I’m not going to produce a new 2CV. That had its time, it was right, but it’s about finding out the next design that’ll be right for the customer.”}

Then in 2020, Citroën tried to market their new Ami Electric as being a modern take on the 2CV, as a low-cost, utilitarian vehicle for the French people, albeit one that had top speed that was less than when the 2CV was introduced in 1947!

Seeing that Citroën was not addressing a serious retro economy offering for those wanting a “2CV – Take 2”, Renault felt there was sufficient demand to seize an unchallenged opportunity in the French market. The Renault 4 would be a bit too retro, but the Renault 5 “LeCar” — it had almost 25 years of nostalgic appeal (1972-1996) and a ‘bad-boy’ race image in Turbo form. Perfect for a model makeover as new EV small car.

Launched in the fall of 2024, Renault 5 E-Tech’s sales success in France has forced Citroën to do a rethink.

Earlier this month at the 2025 Brussels Motor Show, Citroën Head of Design since 2018, Pierre Leclercq, told Autocar that not only is a 2CV revival possible—a retro design is, too. He hinted at the possibility saying:

^{“The things you remember from Citroën is not especially that you want to redo the shape of the vehicles that have been good, but we’re not closing the door.”}

Insiders at Citroën have leaked that “preliminary design work” is underway. If so, a formal launch date might coincide the original car’s 80th anniversary in 2008. Unlike the 15 year development period of the original 2CV, (granted, curtailed by WWII), a 4- year development cycle in modern time should be feasible – even for Citroën!

And while there may be a 2CV revival in the works, we’re willing to bet it won’t be delivering a ride like the original: