Anatomy of a comeback: the return of the Renault 5 Turbo
If you’re under the age of 40 this might not mean very much to you. If you’re over the age of 40, however, you’d better hang on to your pants in case you lose them in all the excitement. You may have seen a new documentary series that popped up on the Amazon Prime channel at the beginning of December detailing how Renault was on the verge of collapse a few years ago. That’s not particularly exciting in itself, but what is exciting is the big reveal that came at the end of the final episode: the brand-new Renault 5 Turbo 3E.
Forty-six years after the launch of the original Renault 5 Turbo, Renault is set to wow enthusiasts all over again with the revival of this ultimate sporting icon.
In a world first, Renault chose to use the documentary series to reveal a brand-new production vehicle. The Easter Egg in question occurs at the end of the fourth episode as viewers follow Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group, Fabrice Cambolive, CEO Renault brand, and Gilles Vidal, VP of Renault Design, on a visit to the Design Department. Amidst all the usual business-speak is the small matter of the exclusive reveal of the future Renault 5 Turbo 3E production model.
With the all-electric Renault 5 E-Tech already available to lease, it’s no surprise that this isn’t the first time we’ve seen this modern take on the iconic Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2 versions.
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E was actually revealed at the 2022 Paris Motor Show, and it had heads nodding in approval at the obvious inspiration it took from the world of motorsport. A modern, electric take on the Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2 of the 1980s, this new sports car is “adrenalin on wheels”. Those are the words of Renault, and while there is clearly going to be some bias in them it’s incredibly difficult to argue with the sentiment.
With the looks and livery of a car built for the track, it’s particularly impressive sporting the historic colours of one of the rallying Renaults of the early 1980s. We don’t actually know too much about the details just yet, other than to say it’s definitely going to launch at some point in 2025.
The new Renault 5 Turbo - hot hatch electrified
What we do know is that the brand-new Renault 5 Turbo 3E is an all-electric hot hatch with a distinctive retro-futuristic design.
Those enormous air intakes in the rear wing and the massively emphasised width of the rear wheel arches just scream Renault 5 Turbo in all its glory. The aggressive front end with its retro squared headlights will strike fear into the heart of every rear-view mirror it appears in, and those huge wheels nestled into the side skirts finish the look of a true ‘80s pocket rocket.
Although in truly modern fashion, those air intakes now hide the charging socket, and the whole superstructure is made of carbon-fibre to provide the stiffness and lightness worthy of its name.
Like its iconic predecessor, underneath that impressive body the new Renault 5 Turbo 3E will make the most of a rear-wheel drive layout, and we all know rear-wheel drive is just better. Two electric motors housed in the rear wheels will deliver the instant power necessary to propel you towards the horizon at a ridiculous rate of knots.
According to Renault, the brand-new Turbo 3E will boast in excess of 500bhp and be capable of sprinting to 62mph in just 3.5 seconds. To put that into context, the original production version of the R5 Turbo had a mid-mounted, 1.
4-litre engine that developed 158bhp and could do the same sprint in around 6.9 seconds. Even the full Rally Championship version could only manage a measly 380bhp at its most powerful. Just imagine what 500bhp is going to feel like in comparison.
Although you’re going to have to be content to imagine for now.
Making the reveal in a documentary may be an unusual idea, but it’s one that is well suited to such a unique and iconic return.
And now that cat is well and truly out of the bag, we can look forward to an array of exclusive reveals through 2025 that will lift the curtain a little bit further on the brand-new Renault 5 Turbo 3E.
And when it finally launches, you’ll know where to come to lease one for yourself….assuming you’re not too busy extinguishing the fire that’s consuming what’s left of your trousers.
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