I suspect we are entering the age of cute cars, along with a revival of loud, playful design. Think bold, whimsical shapes paired with bright, contrasting colors. Case in point: the Citroën 2 CV Concept. The 2 CV Concept is not alone, though, hence my opening statement. But that’s another story for another post.
Revealed at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, this cheerful little EV revisits the original 2CV’s recipe: keep it simple, practical, affordable, and full of character. The old car debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 1948. Its electric descendant arrives with round headlights, yellow tartan upholstery, and door compartments designed to hold eggs.
Yes, eggs. Citroën has remembered a rather specific part of the original brief. It is a weirdly specific design that made it back to the drawing board. Why? I have no idea. But it is kinda cool.
Small Car, Loud Wardrobe
Citroën calls the exterior color of the concept car Infra Red, but there is more going on than the name suggests. It starts with orange, then adds yellow and red highlights. Paired with the round headlights standing apart from the body, rounded wings, and curved roof, it gives the little car plenty of personality before you even open a door.
Some familiar details remain, too, including exposed windscreen wipers and contoured door handles. The 19-inch steel wheels are light grey, with yellow clips bearing the 2CV inscription. Even the Michelin tyres get Citroën chevrons and Heritage branding. At the rear, a black tailgate extends toward the bumper, flanked by LED lights and finished with three horizontal stripes.
I like it. It looks cheerful without requiring anyone to explain why.
At 3.76 meters (12.34 feet) long, it is shorter than the original 2CV. Citroën places it between the Ami and C3 and is aiming for a weight of roughly one tonne (2,205 pounds). Less weight means it can get by with a smaller, cheaper battery, which is rather important when affordability is part of the brief.
The bumpers can also be replaced independently of the bodywork. If someone ruins your day in a parking lot, at least the repair need not involve replacing a much larger piece of the car.
Take the Radio With You
The yellow tartan seats might be enough to sell me on the interior. Beige controls inspired by Bakelite and woven textures reminiscent of cane and wickerwork add to the look. In place of a center console, there is a removable basket made from wood and 3D-printed bio-based plastic.
A basket. Between that and the egg compartments, this car is making a strong case for a picnic.
There is no conventional dashboard. A cylindrical support holds the single-spoke steering wheel, control lever, paddle-shift gear selector, and Citroën Smart Vision display. You also get an 8-inch square touchscreen with comic-book-inspired graphics. That sounds quite at home in a car this colorful.
Then there is the Radioën, a detachable radio that doubles as a speaker. You can take it out of the car and keep listening. I love this detail. The music does not have to stop just because you have arrived.
Citroën Advanced Comfort seats take care of the sitting, with a pull-out front seat for relaxing during a break. Soft straps serve as door handles, and a fabric sunroof lets you open the cabin to the sky. Bring lunch, take the radio, and you have a pretty pleasant afternoon sorted.
Rabbit for Go, Tortoise for Slow
Citroën has put a rabbit on the accelerator pedal and a tortoise on the brake. It is a tiny detail, but it tells you how much fun the designers had with this thing.
The horn and electric motor’s startup sound also echo the original 2CV. Meanwhile, 48 / 90 / 26 on the windscreen refers to its 1948 debut, the end of production in 1990, and the concept’s unveiling in 2026.
There is modern technology beneath the nostalgia, too. Michelin’s “universal tyre digital twin” monitors tyre condition to help the vehicle adapt its behavior to its environment.
We do not have motor output, battery capacity, range, or charging figures yet. What Citroën has shared is its plan for a European-built production model to be unveiled within two years, with a target starting price of around €15,000 [FR].
For now, I just want to see how much of this survives production. Keep the yellow tartan and the removable radio, please. I would hate to discover that the car got sensible on its way to the showroom. I am sure many car enthusiasts would hate that, too.
Images: Citroën [FR].
