New Citroën 2CV: Electric Revival Thanks to Caselani

In collaboration with the Italian coachbuilder Caselani, the Citroën 2CV Van makes a visual comeback with a kit for the ë-Berlingo electric.

Legendary cars have their modern versions: Fiat 500, Ford Mustang, or Mini. But the most popular French car, the Citroën 2CV, has yet to be given a resurrection. An oversight that the manufacturer is trying to rectify.

After the Type H, the Deuche is reborn

To do this, the zigzag brand works with a partner. Citroën has chosen to partner Caselani for the project. This Italian coachbuilder had already made a splash by developing a modern version of the Type H utility vehicle. Based on a Citroën Jumper or the smaller Citroën Jumpy, these vans also received support from the manufacturer.

Here, the Citroën 2CV is inspired by, more specifically the van version. This utility vehicle was introduced in 1951 and was sold to 640,000 units worldwide until 1977. The brand selected the first generation that disappeared in 1957, with the code name 2CV AU (the next being the AZU).

An electric Citroën 2CV van

This retro-styled vehicle is based on the Citroën Berlingo ludospace, which serves as the donor car. The body kit is complete, with a vintage gray color, rounded front with circular headlights, and the famous grille featuring the old logo. The sides also feature generous wheel arches at the front, imitating corrugated metal, while the rear has oval windows and round taillights. Impossible to recognize the Berlingo here, in the only “M” length. Measuring 4.40 meters long, it offers up to 3.3 m³ of usable volume.

But the utility remains true to its original interior. That’s where the vintage stops. The same goes for the mechanics. Available in diesel or petrol versions, the Caselani Van is also offered in electric. An alternative to retrofit. The Citroën ë-Berlingo features a 100 kW motor and a 50 kWh battery, with an autonomy of 275 km.

The commands for this modern Citroën 2CV Van start on October 1st. Deliveries, however, will only begin in January 2023. Neither the brand nor the coachbuilder have yet announced the price of these vehicles.

Also read: Rivian-Mercedes Alliance: future electric utility vehicles in Europe