Photo: Citroen
Ah, the 2CV! Following the Traction Avant in the 1930s and right before the DS in the 1950s, the House of the Double Chevron came out with the 2CV. No fewer than 3.86 million examples of the breed were manufactured from 1948 to 1990, making the Two Steam Horses a commercial success story.
The underpinnings of the 2CV were also utilized by the Dyane, Ami, Méhari, and FAF, bringing the total to 8.83 million. The idea started in the 1930s thanks to vice-president Pierre Boulanger, who was also the chief of engineering and design. But little did he know that his plan to motorize the French farmers who were still using horses would morph into a timeless classic.
Linda Jackson is now in charge of Citroen, and the times are a-changin’ at the French automaker. She told Top Gear the 2CV won’t be brought back as Fiat did with the 500 and MINI with the Cooper, and that’s alright if you look at the bigger picture. “We do frequently revisit the past,” said Jackson, “but it’s about finding out the next design that will be right for the customer.”
Bringing the point home, look at the sales figures for the 500 and the Cooper. Both Fiat and MINI are struggling to make a case for those cars, which are too expensive for what’s offered. Adding insult to injury, the 500 and Cooper can’t compare to the originals in terms of innovation and impact.
The nostalgic vibe of a revival might sell in the first handful of years, but going forward, potential customers would choose something modern, likely something such as a versatile crossover. “What I don’t want to do is become a manufacturer that produces retro,” concluded Jackson.
Directly succeeded by the Dyane and indirectly by the AX, the Citroen 2CV was offered with quite a number of body styles and a four-speed transmission. Depending on the year and model, the Two Steam Horses came with various flat-twin engines inspired by the boxer engine of BMW motorcycles.
Linda Jackson is now in charge of Citroen, and the times are a-changin’ at the French automaker. She told Top Gear the 2CV won’t be brought back as Fiat did with the 500 and MINI with the Cooper, and that’s alright if you look at the bigger picture. “We do frequently revisit the past,” said Jackson, “but it’s about finding out the next design that will be right for the customer.”
Bringing the point home, look at the sales figures for the 500 and the Cooper. Both Fiat and MINI are struggling to make a case for those cars, which are too expensive for what’s offered. Adding insult to injury, the 500 and Cooper can’t compare to the originals in terms of innovation and impact.
The nostalgic vibe of a revival might sell in the first handful of years, but going forward, potential customers would choose something modern, likely something such as a versatile crossover. “What I don’t want to do is become a manufacturer that produces retro,” concluded Jackson.
Directly succeeded by the Dyane and indirectly by the AX, the Citroen 2CV was offered with quite a number of body styles and a four-speed transmission. Depending on the year and model, the Two Steam Horses came with various flat-twin engines inspired by the boxer engine of BMW motorcycles.
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