French carmaker Citroen has brought back its 2CV brand in a bid to boost sales of electric cars in a difficult market. The new model, unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, is a small city runabout with retro styling which harks back to one of the company's most famous designs. As a "concept car" intended to show Citroen's direction of travel, it is not yet ready to go on sale but the plan is to have a version in showrooms by 2028.
As they face mounting competition from Chinese manufacturers, Citroen and other European brands are exploiting their heritage as a means of selling modern motors. Citroen chief executive Xavier Chardon described the new car as "a modern, ingenious and refreshing response to the mobility challenges of tomorrow". The original Citroen 2CV was launched in 1948, as Europe was recovering from the ravages of World War Two.
It was designed as a cheap, robust way for French farmers and country folk to get around. The car had high wheel arches and soft suspension, letting it travel across a ploughed field or rough roads - as legend would have it, without breaking a tray of duck eggs. Its high roof let drivers wear a hat at the wheel.
It was easy to drive and simple to repair. The car was so popular, it remained in production for more than 40 years. Over time, it went from being a utilitarian tool for the countryside to a cult classic, and a favourite of hippies and counter-culturalists.
Now, Citroen wants to draw on that heritage to sell an electric, small city car that is expected to sell for about £13,000. The look of the new 2CV may well evolve as Citroen develops its design. But as it stands, it shares plenty of styling features with its famous predecessor.
The high, flared wheel arches, the tall, curved roof and the eye-like headlights are all reminders of the original "deux chevaux" or "two horses". By using memories of an old car to sell a new one, Citroen is following a well-travelled road. VW notoriously brought back the Beetle in the late 1990s, with limited success.
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