There is something rather refreshing about a new electric car whose biggest ambition is to be small.
Meet Citroën’s 2 CV Concept, revealed at the Paris Motor Show. A little car with a familiar name and a useful question: how much car do we actually need?
At 3.76 metres long, it is shorter than the original 2CV. Citroën is aiming for roughly a tonne, with a European-built production model envisaged by 2028 and a target starting price around €15,000.
Targets, to be clear. This is still a concept. That euro figure is a European ambition, not an Australian price, and the announcement makes no Australian commitment.
But the thinking deserves a look.
Less weight could mean less battery to haul around. Less car to squeeze into a parking space. Less money tied up in something that spends most of its life waiting for us.
Then there is the cabin. Yellow upholstery. A single-spoke steering wheel. A removable basket. A detachable radio. Enough personality to make another black touchscreen interior feel like a missed opportunity.
Some of that will inevitably meet a production accountant.
We hope the charm survives the meeting.
The real test will be whether Citroën can deliver the price, practicality and everyday usefulness it is promising. A cheerful show car is the easy part.
Still, this is an idea we would like to see succeed.
A small electric car you could want for more than its monthly repayment.
Très bien.
Photos: Citroën. Promotional background graphic removed from the exterior image. Concept vehicle shown.