2CV and Multipla rebirths lead Stellantis in Paris

Citroën has brought back the 2CV and Fiat has revived the Multipla idea, as Stellantis previewed six concept cars in Paris ahead of the motor show.

The cars were shown at “The Night Before”, an event at Hangar Y in Paris. The Paris Motor Show runs from October 12 to 18. Stellantis will have nine concepts on its stand, which it says is the largest at the show, with more than 60 vehicles from eight brands.

Citroën 2 CV Concept

The 2 CV Concept is the one with a production date attached. Citroën says the car it previews will be revealed within two years and join the range by 2028. It will be built in Europe, with a target starting price of around €15,000.

At 3.76 m long it is shorter than the original 2CV. Citroën is aiming for a weight of around one tonne, which it says allows a smaller and cheaper battery with range suited to everyday driving. No battery or motor figures have been released. The car is designed to meet Europe’s new E-Car rules and sits between the Ami and the C3.

The styling borrows from the 1948 original. It has round headlights standing proud of the body, a curved roofline, a black tailgate running down to the bumper, a fabric sunroof and 18-inch steel wheels styled on the old car’s. The bumpers are separate from the bodywork so they can be replaced on their own.

Inside there is no conventional dashboard. A cylinder carries a single-spoke steering wheel, one control stalk, a paddle gear selector and an 8-inch square touchscreen. A removable basket replaces the centre console, and the radio detaches to work as a portable speaker. The door bins are shaped to hold eggs, a reference to the original design brief. The brake pedal carries a tortoise and the accelerator a rabbit, and the horn copies the original’s.

“Reinventing the 2 CV isn’t about replicating a car from the past; it’s about reinventing what made it unique: its simplicity, its accessibility and the freedom it offered,” says Citroën CEO Xavier Chardon.

Fiat Multiplay

Fiat’s Multiplay draws on two earlier cars. The 1956 600 Multipla seated six in about 3.5 m, and the 1998 Multipla fitted six seats across two rows in under four metres. Fiat says Multiplay is not a preview of a specific production model.

The 4.45 m concept combines MPV, SUV and pick-up. Fiat calls its key feature the ‘Metamorfosi’ C-pillar. The rear module slides along guides, turning the enclosed 6+1 seat family car into a four-seat pick-up with an open bed. The rear spoiler rotates to become a rack for two bikes.

The extra seat is what Fiat calls the ‘Petsenger seat’, which can take a child seat, a pet, a small table or storage. Part of its cushion detaches as a dog lead, and a door compartment holds a folding water bowl. Fiat says the rearmost area can take two children or an adult. The front passenger seat turns to face rearwards as a lounger when parked. No powertrain details have been given.

“Multiplay expresses a quality we want to bring to FIAT’s next chapter: the ability to make the car useful in everyday life,” says Arnaud Belloni, CEO of the Fiat, Abarth and Lancia brands.

The rest of the line-up

Peugeot’s RCZ Vision revives the name of the RCZ coupe sold from 2009 to 2015. It sits on the STLA One platform and uses a solid-state battery developed with Factorial Energy and a 1000 V system. Peugeot quotes 368 kW, up to 600 km of range and a 10 to 80% charge in 10 minutes. It has steer-by-wire with the Hypersquare yoke, which Peugeot says will appear in production form on the next E-208. It is also Peugeot’s first car with brake-by-wire.

Alfa Romeo’s Cuorerosso previews future models up to 4.7 m long on multi-energy platforms, with room for Quadrifoglio versions. Alfa suggests a 2.9-litre V6 full hybrid with Q4 all-wheel drive as the top performance option.

Opel’s STX Concept is an estate that previews the brand’s next design language, and Opel says elements of it will appear on future production models. DS showed the F3VER, a design concept exploring the brand’s future direction.