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Citroen revives the 2CV for an electric age. 2 hours ago Theo LeggettInternational Business Correspondent 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. Farmers' favourite. 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. BMW's Minis have always carried styling designed to hark back to the very British original. Fiat has been selling a retro-styled Fiat 500 for the past two decades. Retro-nostalgia. But the retro-nostalgia trend has accelerated recently, as carmakers have looked for ways to sell electric cars to sceptical consumers. Citroen's French rival, Renault, has led the charge. It started with the Renault 5 E-Tech, which visually echoed the distinctive boxy styling of the original Renault 5, once an ever-present sight on French streets. It has since revived the Renault 4 and Twingo brands as well. VW has the distinctive ID-Buzz minivan, a throwback to the classic T2 Transporter, while Ford is working on a new EV which is widely expected to be called the Fiesta. Rachel Burgess, senior editor of Autocar magazine, thinks it is a strategy that makes perfect sense. "It's a brilliant differentiator from all-new car brands", she says. "An older audience might remember the originals and feel warmly towards them, and a younger audience might find an appeal in the retro aspect." Finding new ways to make cars appealing has become more important than ever, at a time when European manufacturers are facing growing competition from Chinese brands. "Many in the industry believe the big automotive players in Europe...face a very serious existential threat from aggressive Chinese manufacturers," says David Leggett, automotive editor at Global Data. In this hostile business environment, heritage and nostalgia could prove to be powerful weapons for more established brands, thinks automotive researcher and author Dr Paul Nieuwenhuis. "In a world where a wave of credible decent quality Chinese EVs are hitting Europe, linking European designs back to their history while using the latest powertrain technology is something the Chinese cannot do," he says. "The Chinese can establish new design trends, but there is limited history there." But Leggett thinks Citroen will need more than a heady whiff of nostalgia to turn its new car into a best-seller. "A reimagined Citroën 2CV should give a big nod to its ancestor - especially on price and design simplicity as well as visual cues," he says. "But it also needs to be a credible modern electric car in terms of functionality and features, with widespread appeal."

From ₹6 lakh to ₹3.35 crore: The cars competing for your attention this Diwali. October 10, 2026 | 11:51 IST AI Summary Automakers are launching new models across all price segments ahead of Diwali, ranging from entry-level cars like the Tata Aeris at ₹6.27 lakh to the luxury Mercedes-Benz Maybach S-Class facelift at ₹3.35 crore, aiming to boost festive season sales. From an entry-level car priced at around ₹6 lakh to a luxury sedan costing ₹3.35 crore, automakers are rolling out new models across price segments ahead of Diwali. The festive-season launch activity began around Onam in August, with several models already launched and more scheduled to arrive in October. At the entry level, Tata Motors has launched the Aeris at ₹6.27 lakh, while Maruti Suzuki's new Baleno starts at ₹7.08 lakh. Toyota is expected to launch the Glanza facelift around October 14, with prices expected to start at ₹6 lakh. In the ₹10 lakh-₹20 lakh segment, Mahindra's Thar OG starts at ₹12.5 lakh, while a new version of the 3XO is expected in October. Honda has revealed the Elevate facelift, priced between ₹11.8 lakh and ₹18 lakh, while the Skoda Slavia facelift ranges from ₹10 lakh to ₹19 lakh. For buyers looking at models priced between ₹20 lakh and ₹40 lakh, Kia has introduced the Sorento, starting at ₹34 lakh. MG has brought in the Hector Tomahawk EV at ₹20 lakh and the Tomahawk PHEV at ₹30 lakh. Renault's Duster Hybrid is scheduled to launch on October 17. The line-up extends into the premium and luxury segments. BMW has launched the X1 long-wheelbase version at ₹59 lakh and the all-electric i5 long-wheelbase version at ₹79.60 lakh. The company has also refreshed the 7 Series, with the i7 priced from ₹1.95 crore. Audi's new Q3 is scheduled to arrive in India on October 16. Volvo's ES90 and EX90 electric flagships are set to launch on October 12, with expected prices ranging from ₹1.1 crore to ₹1.2 crore. Mercedes-Benz has launched the Maybach S-Class facelift at ₹3.35 crore. With launches spread across price categories, the key question is whether the expanded line-up will translate into stronger sales this festive season. Watch accompanying video for full report.

Renault 4 gets cheaper LFP battery and €27,600 price tag in Belgium. October 9, 2026 The Renault 4 E-Tech Electric is getting a more affordable entry-level version with a smaller 37 kWh LFP battery and a new 110 hp motor, while retaining a WLTP range of 305 km /Renault Renault's strategy to make its electric models more affordable is taking shape. Following similar improvements to the Renault 5 in August, the French carmaker is introducing a new entry-level Renault 4 with a smaller LFP battery, a less powerful electric motor and a Belgian starting price of €27,600. That is €2,300 below the Renault 4's original Belgian launch price of €29,900. However, the savings come with relatively minor compromises in performance, equipment and driving range. The new 'Jogging' version, scheduled to arrive before the end of 2026, is part of Renault's broader effort to reduce EV production costs and compete more effectively in Europe's increasingly crowded affordable electric car segment. From speculation to confirmation. As NewMobility.News reported in June, Renault was preparing technical improvements for both the electric Renault 4 and 5, including more efficient electric powertrains and the possible introduction of cheaper lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The Renault 5 received its first improvements in August. Now, the Renault 4 is following with a new entry-level powertrain and a battery using the less expensive LFP chemistry. Unlike the nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries used in the more expensive versions, LFP cells do not require nickel or cobalt in their cathodes. Together with a more integrated cell-to-pack architecture, this should help Renault reduce battery manufacturing costs. The new Jogging also gets an 80 kW (110 hp) electric motor from the same family as the unit used in the electric Twingo. Smaller battery, almost the same range. Despite its smaller battery, the new Renault 4 Jogging promises a WLTP driving range of 305 km, remarkably close to the approximately 310 km offered by the previous 40 kWh Urban Range version. The motor delivers 110 hp and 225 Nm of torque, compared with 150 hp and 245 Nm for the larger-battery Comfort Range models. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/hour takes 10.2 seconds, compared with 8.2 seconds for the more powerful versions. DC fast charging remains available at up to 80 kW, compared with 100 kW for the Comfort Range. These figures underline Renault's changing priorities. Instead of simply adding battery capacity and horsepower, the manufacturer is seeking a more economical balance between price, efficiency and everyday usability. €27,600, but not without compromises. Renault's October Belgian price list confirms that the new Jogging will cost €27,600, including VAT. In Luxembourg, where VAT is lower, the price is €26,687.60. That makes the new version considerably more accessible than the 52 kWh Evolution Comfort Range, which starts at €33,350 in Belgium. However, the €5,750 price difference does not simply reflect a smaller battery and motor. The Jogging also comes with a more basic equipment package. It has manual rather than automatic air conditioning, a simpler digital instrument display and a multimedia system without the Google-integrated navigation offered on Evolution. The heat pump is listed as standard on Evolution but not on Jogging, while Vehicle-to-Load functionality is reserved for the more expensive versions. For buyers primarily using their EV for daily commuting and shorter journeys, the savings may outweigh these compromises. Others may prefer the additional range and comfort of the larger-battery versions. More range for the existing versions. Meanwhile, Renault is improving the efficiency of its existing Renault 4 models. The 52 kWh Evolution Comfort Range now achieves up to 415 km WLTP, compared with 409 km previously, thanks in part to aerodynamic refinements to the underbody and exterior mirrors. Other versions offer slightly different figures depending on equipment and body configuration. The open-roof Plein Sud models, for example, sacrifice some efficiency for their distinctive lifestyle appeal. At the opposite end of the range, the new Roland-Garros Plein Sud edition starts at €40,150 in Belgium, demonstrating just how broadly Renault intends to position its retro-inspired electric crossover. Improving the ownership experience. Beyond the mechanical changes, Renault is also introducing several improvements intended to make daily electric driving easier. Drivers will be able to manually activate battery preconditioning before a DC fast-charging stop, without first selecting a charging station in the navigation system. Other additions include charging notifications through the My Renault smartphone app, a predictive eco-driving assistant and an emergency stop function designed to bring the vehicle to a halt if the driver becomes unresponsive. These changes should improve the usability of the Renault 4, particularly for drivers who frequently rely on public charging infrastructure. Affordable EVs become a priority. The arrival of the LFP-powered Jogging illustrates a wider shift in Europe's electric car market. With increasingly competitive models from Stellantis, Hyundai and Chinese manufacturers, Renault can no longer rely on distinctive design and nostalgia alone. Price, efficiency and operating costs are becoming just as important. At €27,600, the Renault 4 remains above the symbolic €25,000 threshold. Nevertheless, its new entry-level version demonstrates how cheaper battery chemistry and shared electric powertrain technology can help manufacturers reduce prices without completely sacrificing range.