FANCY a quirky French 2CV for the 21st century — one you can drive at 16?

Citroen reckons it can provide just that with its friendly, speed-restricted new Ami One pure electric prototype to be launched at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.

The plastic-bodied two-door urban runaround (left) measures 2.5m x 1.5m high, has a top speed of 28 mph (12mph slower than an original 1948 2CV) and comes with an easy-clean flat floor. There’s also a flip-back canvas roof like the original 2CV.

Classed as a ‘light quadricycle’ rather than a car, it can be driven by 16-yearolds on a provisional licence, though it may have to lose some weight to qualify for that in the UK. In France, even 14-year-olds will be able to drive it. Citroen, led by Briton Linda Jackson, says it could be on the road within two years.

A complete charge takes two hours and it has a range of 62 miles.