A Modern Citroën 2CV Sounds Great. Until You Think About the Price

Citroën has revived the 2CV name at the Paris Motor Show, displaying two concepts inspired by its most recognisable small car. One recalls the original passenger model, while the other takes its cues from the old Fourgonnette van.

Both are interesting to look at. But I keep coming back to the same question: how much would a modern 2CV actually cost?

The original wasn’t built to be fashionable. It was designed to provide affordable transport for people who needed a car, often on roads that were far from perfect.

It had a tiny engine, wonderfully soft suspension and very little equipment. Owners didn’t have to worry about enormous touchscreens or complicated driving modes.

Of course, nobody could sell that exact car today.

Modern safety standards alone would demand a completely different structure. Add emissions rules, electronics and the equipment buyers now expect, and the idea of a genuinely cheap 2CV becomes much harder to deliver.

Citroën could make it electric. A small battery would probably suit a lightweight city car better than an enormous pack designed for long motorway journeys.

But that’s only a possibility. The company hasn’t announced a production electric 2CV, and these concepts shouldn’t be mistaken for confirmed showroom models.

I find the Fourgonnette version particularly appealing.

The original little van was built to work, not to impress anyone. A modern equivalent could be useful for local deliveries, small businesses or tradespeople who don’t need a large commercial vehicle.

Imagine something compact enough for crowded streets, with a practical load area and reasonable running costs.

The trouble is that attractive styling doesn’t make a van economical. Businesses would look at payload, servicing costs and reliability long before worrying about whether it resembles a classic Citroën.

The same applies to the passenger version.

A modern 2CV priced like a premium lifestyle car would miss much of the original’s appeal. Buyers might admire it, take photographs and then choose something cheaper.

And there’s already plenty of competition among affordable city cars and small electric vehicles.

That’s why I’d rather see Citroën concentrate on simplicity than nostalgia. Keep the car comfortable, easy to use and inexpensive to maintain. Give it enough technology to meet modern requirements, but don’t add expensive features simply because competitors have them.

The 2CV deserves more than a familiar shape.

If Citroën ever puts one back into production, the best tribute would be a car ordinary people can afford.