The new Renault 5 E-Tech electric has made its debut, and there's good news for all those who fell in love with the Renault 5 concept revealed in 2021.
The production car looks like it has kept most of the design features of the concept. Its front looks to have been slightly rounded (to our eyes at least, presumably to meet pedestrian safety standards) but rally fans will be pleased to note that those appealing square fog lamps that make a nod to the Renault 5 Turbo have been thankfully retained.
Also retained on the production car from the concept are the visually prominent wheel arches, which echo the characteristic shape of the arches on the original Renault 5. Renault has also retained the colourful roof trim (in black, red or gold) as well as the vertical rear lights of the concept, all features that bring to mind the original Renault 5.
The car is also said to have retained the dimensions of the concept, coming in at 3,920mm long, 1,770mm wide and 1,500mm tall, making it shorter but taller than a Clio.
Finally, as revealed in a set of teaser images released in December 2023, the production Renault 5 E-Tech electric continues to sport a vent grille on its bonnet, although this design piece now serves as a charge indicator that illuminates once the driver approaches the vehicle.
Renault is launching the 5 E-Tech electric in five exterior body colours, two of which, Pop Yellow and Pop Green, are said to be inspired by shades that were present in the classic car's 1970s catalogue. The three remaining colours offered are Artic White, Diamond Black and Midnight Blue.
The cabin of the Renault 5 E-Tech electric also makes nods to the various generations of the Renault 5, with a rectangular instrument cluster (comprising two 10.1-inch screens) facing the driver, and the front passenger facing a padded element.
The seats here also take their design cues from the R5 Turbo with their H-shape, and come upholstered in denim that is 100% made from recycled plastic bottles. The material is also utilised on the dashboard and door panels of the 'Techno' trim car.
The Renault 5 E-Tech electric is being offered with two power outputs. The first, totalling 148bhp and delivering 245Nm of torque, will allow the car to sprint from zero to 100km/h in under 8.0 seconds. This variant will come animated by a 52kWh battery, which Renault states gives the car a WLTP range of 400km.
A second, less powerful version will also be offered at a later date. This version pushes out a total of 121bhp and delivers a total of 225Nm of torque, and will also come with a smaller 40kWh battery, which Renault states gives it a WLTP range of 300km. Both batteries make use of a nickel manganese cobalt chemistry, which has been utilised for its superior energy density.
Charging the Renault 5 E-Tech meanwhile, can be done at speeds of up to 100kW for the larger battery variant, and up to 80kW for the second.
The first examples of the Renault 5 E-Tech electric are scheduled to arrive in the U.K. in the first quarter of 2025. Renault Singapore expects the Renault 5 to reach Singapore by 2025 at the earliest.
