Perched on an exclusive 800V architecture, the two-engine hatchback will have a production cap of 1,980 vehicles.
- The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is headed to production in 2027
- It has two in-wheel motors at the rear and a carbon fiber body.
- It uses a tailor-made electrical architecture with an 800V battery pack capable of accepting up to 350 kW.
Well, Renault is doing it. Late last year, when the French automaker revealed The 5 Turbo 3E electric super-hatch , it said that the yellow monster would eventually go into production. Now, it’s official.
Scheduled for release from the manufacturing plant in 2027, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E serves as an updated, all-electric homage to the legendary 5 Turbo and 5 Turbo 2 models from the 1980s. Similar to these earlier gasoline-driven versions, this contemporary "mini supercar" mirrors the appearance of the classic hot hatches yet cranks up the excitement level significantly beneath its exterior design.
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The single front-mounted motor and 400-volt battery pack are now obsolete. Renault 5 Instead, Renault opted for a custom-made platform featuring an 800-volt battery pack connected to two electric motors located within the rear wheels. This setup delivers a combined power of 540 horsepower, and according to Renault, can accelerate from standstill to 62 mph (or 0-100 km/h) in less than 3.5 seconds.
As a compact two-door hatchback measuring only 157 inches (4 meters) in length, each start-up promises to be thrilling. However, the focus isn’t solely on quick acceleration; the special edition electric vehicle boasts an estimated range of 250 miles (400 kilometers) per full charge. Additionally, with its remarkable top charging rate of 350 kilowatts, it can increase its battery level from 15 to 80 percent in merely 15 minutes.
The vehicle tips the scales at 3,197 pounds (1,450 kilograms) when you include its 70-kilowatt-hour battery. This puts it about on par with an ordinary Renault 5 equipped with a 52-kWh battery, along with having four doors and backseats. In contrast, the 5 Turbo 3E uses lightweight carbon fiber for construction to minimize mass; it features only two seats and two doors instead.
Inside, you'll find a vertically positioned handbrake lever reminiscent of its ancestor’s rally past, along with a roll cage, bucket seats equipped with six-point harnesses, and Alcantara accents spread across the interior.
In terms of appearance, the production version is almost indistinguishable from last year's prototype. This has become somewhat typical for Renault; frequently, exciting concept cars are introduced but never make it into production. Therefore, it's quite invigorating to witness this vehicle move into production largely unchanged from its original design.
Renault announced that pre-orders for the striking 5 Turbo 3E will commence in the upcoming weeks. While prices have not been disclosed yet, only 1,980 vehicles will be produced—an homage to the original 5 Turbo, which was launched in 1980 as part of a homologation requirement. Production of the initial units is scheduled to start in 2027. This model will be available in Europe, Australia, Japan, and the Middle East.