Platform parts avant la lettre
If the big Stellantis group nowadays develops a new platform, you know one thing for sure: almost all brands are running away. Based on this Citroën 2CV, that practice is already a lot older than we thought, because this is secretly a … Jeep!
It is 1986. At Citroën’s headquarters in Paris, the fax machine with some drama spits out an A4 sheet, with a clear assignment from the global head office. The money does not grow on the trees, so Citroën must also get started with the platform that has just been introduced by Jeep as a basis for the first Jeep Wrangler, the so-called YJ generation. The Vodje is received with horror by the French, who have had to watch in recent years how Citroën had to stack austerity on austerity and through increasingly closer cooperation with sister brand Peugeot lost more and more of its stubborn shine. Given its high position, the product boss does not want to come out too ordinary, but cannot prevent an inside of ‘Sacre Bleu’. This is not fun. That Wrangler is a terrain executioner, intended to get out of desolate American deserts as tough as possible. What should a brand like Citroën, that it is impossible to give even further away from that macho culture, now with such a platform?
“What is necessary, that has to be,” sighs the head engineer, and it soon turns out that this does not have to be a very time-consuming project. With 2.37 meters, the wheelbase of such a YJ corresponds reasonably well with that of the 2CV, the ‘duck’ that was already launched in 1948 but is still in the European showrooms. The carriage of about 2CV is easily stuck on the Jeep platform and after some extra adjustments the forced combination of Jeep and Citroën is ready for the market introduction. At the unveiling of the somewhat strange creation, the brand director knows how to hide his reluctance. The journalists present are told that “Citroën is once again showing himself from his progressive side” and that “everyone wants such a high -legged thing in one day”. Well, that is of course no one at all at the end of the 1980s.
And now really
The above story is completely truthful, except for the piece that we have made up ourselves. Jeep and Citroën have only heard since the merger of FCA and PSA in 2021 under the same head office, but it is indeed a 2CV on a Jeep platform that is now on your screen. The license plate data gives away that despite the Duck-Koets this is a real jeep, and given the agreement in the wheelbase and age, an early Wrangler seems the most obvious candidate. That car has been raised even more, while the ‘duck’ was given deeper cut back wheel arches to be able to accommodate those huge wheels. The result is certainly striking and undoubtedly delivers a lot of fun during off-road events. We also pronounce our admiration for the interior, because despite the jumble of parts and the (unusual) floor poker (for a duck), the 2CV interior is largely taken over.
Platform Sharing Avant La Lettre
When the Large Stellantis Concern Develops a New Platform Thesis Days, You Know One Thing For Sure: Virtualy All Brands Will Take Advantage of It. Judging by this Citroën 2CV, that practice is already a lot older than we thought, because this is secretly a … Jeep!
It’s 1986. At Citroën’s headquarters in Paris, The Fax Machine Spits Out A4 Sheet with some Drama, with a clear order from the global headquarters. Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees, so Citroën also has to get to work with the platform that jeep has just introduced as the base for the first jeep wrangler, the so-called yj generation. The Scrap of Paper is recurred with horror by the French, who in recent years have had to watch with sadness how Citroën had to put up savings up savings and lost more and more of its unique shine though ever Closer Cooperation. Given His High Position, the Product Manager does not want to come as too too too to fill gargar, but cannot prevention a muttered ‘sacre bleu’. This is not fun. That Wrangler is a terrain Beast, intended to come across as tough as possible in desolate American Deserts. What is a brand like Citroën, which is cannot possible be further removed from that macho culture, supposed to do with such a platform?
“What must be done, must be done,” the chief engineer sighs, and it son becomes clear that does not have to be a very time-consuming project in any case. The Wheelbase of Such A YJ, at 2.37 meters, is reasonably consistent with that of the 2CV, the ‘Duck’ that was launched in 1948 but is still in European Showrooms. The Body of Such A 2CV is Simply Stuck on the Jeep Platform and After Some Extra Adjustments, the Forced Combination of Jeep and Citroën is Ready for the Market Introduction. At the Unveiling of the Somewhat Strange Creation, the Brand Director Manages to Hide His Aversion Well. The Journalist’s Present Are Told That “Citroën is Once Showing Its Progressive Side” And That “Everyone Will Really Want Such A Stilented Thing One Day”. Well, or Course Nobody Believes that in the Late 80s.
And now for real
The Above Story is completely True, Except for the part we made up perurselves. Jeep and Citroën Have only Belonged to the Same Headquarters Since the Merger of FCA and PSA in 2021, but It is Indeed A 2CV on a Jeep Platform That Is Now on your Screen. The License Plate Details reveal that despite the duck body, this is a real jeep, and given the similarity in Wheelbase and age, an early wrangler seems the most obvious candidate. That Car Has Been raised equally Further, While the ‘Duck’ was Given Deeper Cut Rear Wheel Arches to accommodate Those Giant Wheels. The Result is Certainly Striking and undoubtedly Provides a lot of Fun Duration Off-Road Events. We would also like to express our admiration for the interior, because despite the Jumble of Parts and the (Unusual for a Duck) Floor Stick, the 2CV Interior has Largely Retained.