Few things compliment each other as well as a homely Euro hatch and massive, unseemly, perhaps indecent box flares. The original Renault 5 Turbo was a cut-up and remixed supermini, a slow and not particularly memorable economy hatchback save for its somewhat infamous incarnation in the states as the Le Car. The transverse drivetrain was scooped out from under the hood and transplanted into the rear, with a healthy serving of parts from other Renault and Alpine models, and swollen bodywork.
The result could have been a Françaisenstein’s monster, but instead this mid-engined tiny hatch proved a clever and efficient motorsports weapon, even in the face of the ascendant Audi Quattro all-wheel-drive system. And also, a template for the hottest and most exotic species of hot hatch, with a transverse drivetrain out back, like the later (and bonkers) Renault Clio V6.
The new Renault 5 Turbo 3E is both delightfully similar to its wide-set ancestor, and very different. For one, the look is just right. Renault showed off a concept for a similar 5 Turbo revival in 2022 (above, with a pink background), but it looked more like a classic 5 given a serious restomod makeover. Awesome, sure, but this production-intent/production-preview Turbo 3E is a more serious affair and builds off the Renault 5 EV that’s currently on sale in Europe. It’s definitely retro, but not obnoxiously so, and fits right into the moment we’re having from an automotive design perspective in which an EV like this makes perfect sense. Look at the Giugiaro-inspired Hyundai Ioniq 5 and N Vision 74, and even BMW’s Neue Klasse design language.
But given the compact packaging and installation flexibility of e-motors, the novelty of making a front-drive economy car into a rear-drive, mid-engined homologation special doesn’t translate. That’s not to take away from what the Turbo 3E will actually offer, dynamically, because it sounds wild.
Renault is promising that it’ll feature rear-drive via what the press information hints will be hub-mounted e-motor installations. That should make the Turbo 3E very exciting, and also allow for some very advanced, very quick traction and power delivery adjustments across the rear axle. And, of course, a big fat torque wave from a standstill. The provisional numbers are “more than 507 hp” and a 0–62 mph time of 3.5 seconds, which sounds very entertaining.
Renault doesn’t sell cars in America, of course, and with the recent departure of Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares all the rumors and hints in the last few years about various Stellantis brands reemerging in America are probably up in the air, if not dead entirely. That said, the R5 Turbo 3E looks fantastic and, from the limited details provided, sounds like a riot. Credit to the company for indicating they’ll actually build the thing, too. If nothing else, we Americans might have a very exciting rental car option for European vacations.
