Citroën Showcases Concept Cars and ELO at Rétromobile 2026

Citroën presented the ELO electric concept and historic concept cars at Rétromobile 2026, marking the show’s 50th anniversary with a focused exhibition.

Citroën marked the 50th anniversary of the Rétromobile show with a large-scale return, turning its stand into a clear narrative about how the brand has combined engineering boldness, experimental design, and everyday usability over decades. Spread across 512 square metres, the display creates a dialogue between past and future rather than presenting them as separate chapters.

At the centre of the stand is the ELO concept car, shown to the French public for the first time. Conceived as a laboratory of ideas, the fully electric prototype reflects Citroën’s vision of future mobility: a compact body measuring 4.10 metres in length, seating for up to six people, and an interior designed as a flexible living space adaptable to travel, work, and leisure. Panoramic visibility and an unconventional cabin layout underline the brand’s intention to rethink familiar family car formats without announcing a ready-made production model.

Surrounding ELO is a chronological journey through seven historic Citroën concept cars, each of which offered a distinctive interpretation of the automobile of its time. From the early 1939 2 CV A prototype to the eco-focused C-Cactus of 2007, the selection highlights how experimental ideas have repeatedly shaped the brand’s identity. These vehicles illustrate Citroën’s long-standing use of concept cars as test beds for design, technology, and packaging solutions.

A rare 1939 Traction Avant 15-6 Cabriolet occupies a special place within the display. One of only three surviving six-cylinder prototypes, it returns to Rétromobile during the show’s anniversary year, creating a symbolic link with the very first edition of the event in 1976. Its presence emphasizes that Citroën’s culture of innovation predates the modern notion of the concept car.

The experience is enhanced by an immersive audio guide accessible via QR codes, allowing visitors to explore the history and technical background of each exhibited model in sequence. This approach transforms the stand into a coherent story rather than a static collection of vehicles.

Citroën’s anniversary appearance at Rétromobile 2026 ultimately reads less as an exercise in nostalgia and more as a statement of continuity. While ELO does not point to an immediate production vehicle, it clearly signals the direction in which the brand continues to explore the balance between practicality, originality, and technological progress.