Fans of hot hatchbacks, fasten your seatbelts because Renault is reviving the wild spirit of the 1980s, but with an electric twist. Introducing the Renault 5 Turbo 3E, a limited-edition electric vehicle that combines incredible power, vintage styling, and unadulterated driving enjoyment. Indeed, it looks as awesome as it sounds.
This is no longer merely an idea. It will begin production in 2027, with only 1,980 units anticipated globally. By the way, that number isn’t arbitrary; it’s a reference to the year that the first Renault 5 Turbo dominated rally courses and automobile posters.
Let’s examine what makes the 5 Turbo 3E one of the most intriguing upcoming electric vehicles.
Renault Style: A Look Back at the Future
You will adore this car if you enjoy boxy fender flares, massive rear spoilers, and crazy angles that shout 1980s rally madness.
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E adds just the right amount of contemporary flair while remaining true to the original design. Imagine LED pixel taillights, carbon fiber body panels, and enormous wheels that would fit on the cover of a video game.
It is loud (visually, not aurally—it’s electric), wide, low, and it doesn’t apologize for being noticeable. And that’s pretty much the main idea.
What’s Inside? Spoiler alert: No Hood
This EV doesn’t have a roaring engine like the majority of contemporary EVs do. The 5 Turbo 3E is anything but tame, so don’t be fooled by that.
It has the following features:
When cornering and drifting, it has all-wheel precision thanks to two electric motors, one for each rear wheel.
540 horsepower is insane for a car this small.
It is comparable to high-performance sports cars, reaching 60 mph in less than 3.5 seconds.
In case you get track time, you can reach a top speed of 168 mph.
With a 70 kWh battery and an estimated 249 miles of range when fully charged (WLTP estimate), this is more than enough for your weekend car meets or canyon runs.
This was not designed for quiet city commutes. It was designed to destroy racetracks, back roads, and most likely your Instagram feed.
Big Price Tag, Limited Run
The catch is that Renault will only produce 1,980 of these, and they will not be inexpensive. The starting price is anticipated to be approximately £130,000 ($168,000), with custom options potentially reaching £200,000 ($260,000).
For a hot hatch, is it too much? Of course. This isn’t your typical hatchback, though; it’s a collectible electric rally beast with built-in exclusivity, heritage, and street cred.
So, is it possible to purchase one in the United States?
Regretfully, no, not formally.
This beauty will remain in Europe and other fortunate markets unless you intend to import one through a specialist (and clear all those legal requirements), as Renault does not currently sell automobiles in the US.
If you’re a Renault fan in the United States, you can still admire the company from a distance or hope that its languid attempts at international expansion will soon take a serious turn.
Why This Vehicle Is Important (Even If You’re Not Purchasing One)
There is more to the Renault 5 Turbo 3E than just nostalgia or a collectible. It demonstrates what enjoyable driving might look like in an electric future.
It demonstrates that electric vehicles don’t have to be heartless gadgets. They can be outrageous, strange, dramatic, or just plain entertaining.
Additionally, it demonstrates how automakers can draw inspiration from their history to shape their present and future, which is precisely what Renault is doing here—and doing it successfully.
Concluding Remarks: Electric Future, Rally Roots
Bold, quick, electric, and completely unrepentant, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is everything a contemporary hot hatch should be. Reimagined for a new generation of enthusiasts, it is a love letter to one of the most stylish cars of the 1980s.
The 5 Turbo 3E is a sight to behold, regardless of whether you are old enough to recall the original Renault 5 speeding through rally stages or you simply enjoy unique, cool cars.
Even though the majority of us will never own one, we can still enjoy the ride.
