No other automotive executive enjoys reviving old glories as much as Luca de Meo, CEO of the Renault Group. He previously did it with the Fiat 500 and the Abarth brand during his time at the Italian company (now part of Stellantis), but it is at his current company where he is fully committed to this approach: he found Alpine already in progress but has designed a much more ambitious plan. At Renault, he has revived two icons, the R5 and the R4, just to mention the cars.
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E, a reincarnation of the charismatic Renault 5 Turbo from 1980, will be the highlight of the new generation of the French urban car, now electric.
Although it looks like a prototype, what you see is the model that will be available for purchase in 2027, with orders opening in a few weeks. It is touted as the most powerful and exclusive Renault ever made.
A reissue of the R5 Turbo needed a design in line with its predecessor. It is longer (4.08 meters) and much wider than the new Renault 5 E-Tech, measuring 2.03 meters, living up to its affectionate nickname 'fat bottom,' as popularly known. It was showcased in Paris and can be described in one word: impressive.
In addition to the design, the Renault brand will add an exclusive touch that the original R5 Turbo lacked, configuring it as a limited series of 1,980 units, paying homage to the Turbo's launch year.
This limitation is not only to add uniqueness to the car but also part of the business model for a car with a particularly expensive development. Featuring a full carbon body and a specific platform, its high price, still undisclosed but expected to be six figures, will help self-finance this 'CEO's whim,' Luca de Meo.
It stands out as the first car with motors embedded in the wheels, only in the rear, making it a rear-wheel-drive unlike the Renault 5 E-Tech, resembling the original French sports car. While other cars like the Mercedes G580 have four motors, each powering a wheel, they are not integrated into the wheels.
With immense power and torque (540 horsepower and 4,800 Nm), the Renault 5 Turbo 3E promises to be as wild as the original 'Fat Bottom,' with a power delivery management that simulates the 'all or nothing' characteristic of high-performance turbo engines.
Technical details are scarce, but it is known that the battery will have a 70 kWh capacity, providing around 400 kilometers of range or 20 minutes at maximum performance on the track. With 800-volt technology and a charging power of 350 kW, it can go from 15% to 80% in 15 minutes for a quick return to the track.
Its top speed will be 270 km/h, boasting acceleration figures worthy of a supercar: less than 3.5 seconds for 0-100 km/h and less than 9 seconds for 0-200 km/h, thanks to its reduced weight of 1,450 kilograms.
With a handbrake for drifting
The interior features two large 10.2-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment system with Google services, presented with specific graphics inspired by the classic Turbo, emphasizing parameters for sporty driving.
The interior is significantly different from the Renault 5 E-Tech, being a two-seater with a rear trunk, roll cage, and ultra-light carbon bucket seats with six anchor points that can be customized with different colors for the driver and passenger.
Its most distinctive feature is the rally-style handbrake, used for drifting, with a specific drift driving program with three levels, made easier by the individual control of the motors on each rear wheel.
This is not just a toy but a collector's car, highly customizable with classic decorations in the brand's competition colors or the iconic red and blue of the Maxi Turbo from Group B.
The last detail yet to be revealed is the price of the Renault 5 Turbo 3E, expected to be above the current market value of a pristine Renault 5 Turbo at 150,000 euros, with a six-digit price tag anticipated.
Would such a high price be justified? For comparison, a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N with 650 horsepower costs 78,000 euros, and a Porsche Taycan starts at 105,000 euros. The Renault 5 Turbo 3E, being a more special car with exclusive technology and limited production of less than 2,000 units, appeals to emotions tied to a highly remembered model, making it worth the investment.