The future 2CV must be driving Citroën designers crazy!
- Published on 06/08/2026 15:28
The future electric 2CV announced by the brand with the chevrons for 2028 could well be Citroën’s most delicate project in decades.
After the phenomenal success of the new Renault 5 and Renault 4 E-Tech, the temptation is great for all manufacturers to resurrect their most iconic models, and Citroën could not miss its turn. All eyes are now on the 2CV of the future, for which the presentation is expected at the next Paris Motor Show.
On paper, the idea is appealing. In reality, it presents a real headache. The Renault 5 and Renault 4 had relatively simple lines, made of soft volumes and elements easily transposable to the demands of the 21st century. Designers were able to retain their overall silhouette while integrating modern aerodynamic and regulatory constraints.
The 2CV, however, belongs to a completely different universe.
Its wings completely detached from the body, its ridged hood, its marked edges, its protruding headlights, and its minimalist bumpers are all aesthetic signatures… that no longer meet current pedestrian safety standards and crash protection. A faithful reproduction is simply impossible.
The design teams will therefore have to perform a balancing act: to instantly evoke the “Deuche” without falling into pastiche, while designing a car capable of obtaining modern approvals. A challenge even more complex than those faced by Renault in recent years.
The other question concerns, of course, the very spirit of the 2CV. The original was a popular, rustic, lightweight car that was extraordinarily simple. Can a modern electric city car, loaded with safety equipment, batteries, and electronics, still claim this philosophy?
Citroën has a lot at stake. A design that is too faithful is technically unfeasible. Conversely, a design that is too far removed would lose all the magic of a model that has become a true icon of French automotive history.
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The future will tell if the chevrons have found the miracle formula… or if they have taken on a legend even harder to resurrect than the Renault 5.
This page is translated from the original post "La future 2CV doit rendre fous les designers de Citroën !" in French.
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