Skip advert
Advertisement

The 500bhp Renault 5 Turbo 3E is a rally icon revived

The Renault 5 Turbo is one of the most iconic hot hatches ever built, and now it’s being revived in rear-drive, EV-form almost half a century on

The Alpine A290 plugged the performance gap the ordinary Renault 5 left for it, and while both are excellent in their own ways, the lack of a Renault 5 Turbo variant seemed a missed opportunity. Now though, a whole 46 years since the Renault 5 Turbo made its first appearance, Renault has confirmed the new 5 Turbo 3E as an electric take on the R5 Turbo and Turbo 2 of the ‘80s.

Advertisement - Article continues below

If you think you’ve seen this car before, you’re not entirely mistaken. In 2022, Renault launched a model under the same name to celebrate its 50th year, but it was merely a concept. According to Renault CEO Luca de Meo, this new car is set to enter production, hitting the road in the not-too-distant future as a model to rival the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

> Renault 5 2024 review - £23k fun electric hatch with some of the original's spirit

While it’s based on the underpinnings of the ordinary Renault 5, this is no half-baked special. Out goes the standard car’s single front-mounted motor and in go a pair of uprated motors, both powering the rear wheels just like the original 5 Turbo. The 2022 concept boasted an impressive 374bhp output, over double the output of the combustion-powered 5 Turbo, but this new model is said to produce even more: 500bhp to be exact, over twice that of the Alpine A290 GTS. The result is a quoted 3.5sec 0-62mph time, 2.9sec ahead of the Alpine and just a tenth behind the Ioniq 5 N.

The addition of two uprated motors, supporting hardware and uprated chassis components will undoubtedly add weight, but Renault has done its best to keep weight down (and rigidity up) with the use of a carbon superstructure. A weight figure hasn’t been disclosed, but expect this car to fall somewhere in the 1450kg region to match the Renault 5 it’s based on (quite some way from the 980kg quoted for the 2022 concept).

While it's not yet clear how much of this design will make it to the road, it borrows the boxy, enlarged arches, dual lower fog lights, triple intake slats and small, rectangular headlights reminiscent of the original R5. At the rear, the same vertical lights and contrasting horizontal bar as the ordinary 5 remain, but new aero elements, a vast new faux-diffuser element and bespoke new bumper hark back to the ‘80s. Despite the lack of an engine, it even features intakes forward of the rear wheels which are said to be home to the charging port. Neat.

It’s not yet clear how many will be made or how much the Renault 5 Turbo 3E will cost when it hits the road, but we do know that we’re rather keen to have a go when it does.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

The BMW M3 is going electric – here’s our first look
Electric BMW M3 test mules
News

The BMW M3 is going electric – here’s our first look

The next M3 supersaloon is receiving a pure-electric powertrain, and new images offer our very first glimpse…
12 Dec 2024
Caterham Project V due in 2025 to take on electric Porsche Cayman
Caterham Project V – front
News

Caterham Project V due in 2025 to take on electric Porsche Cayman

Caterham’s new age electric coupe will pack Yamaha powertrain tech and liquid-cooled batteries, with development due to be completed next year
11 Dec 2024
'Jaguar’s rebrand isn’t the problem, its new cars will be'
Jaguar Type 00
Opinion

'Jaguar’s rebrand isn’t the problem, its new cars will be'

Jaguar’s biggest challenge isn’t the fallout from its new brand marketing, but that it’s entering a market that’s showing very little signs of life
3 Dec 2024
The Jaguar Type 00 is a 1000bhp super GT concept
Jaguar Type 00 side
News

The Jaguar Type 00 is a 1000bhp super GT concept

1000bhp, £90,000 super GT concept car shows Jaguar’s bold new future
3 Dec 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

From 2025 your new performance car might cost over £5k to tax
Car tax 2025
News

From 2025 your new performance car might cost over £5k to tax

Audi's RS6, Lamborghini Revuelto, Mercedes-AMG GT... any car producing more than 255g/km of C02 will be hit by a rise in vehicle excise duty from Apri…
11 Dec 2024
Aston Martin confirms 1064bhp Valhalla for 2025 launch
Aston Martin Valhalla
News

Aston Martin confirms 1064bhp Valhalla for 2025 launch

It's taken six years to get here, but Aston Martin has finally confirmed its new mid-engined, four-wheel drive carbon-tubbed Valhalla will be delivere…
11 Dec 2024
McLaren's future secured as Abu Dhabi buyer confirms sale
McLaren for sale
News

McLaren's future secured as Abu Dhabi buyer confirms sale

McLaren’s Bahraini owners agree to sell the automotive division to Abu Dhabi’s CYVN Holdings, which already has investments in Gordon Murray Technolog…
9 Dec 2024