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Renault look back to go forward with the Renault E-Tech Electric, an EV version of the classic hot hatch and enduring pop culture icon
Renault are celebrating the 50th birthday of its Renault 5 with the announcement an all-electric version, the Renault E-Tech Electric. The original car has a place in the hearts of many a boomer, it being a vehicle which altered the perception of what a small car could be, particularly in Europe and the UK (in the US the Renault 5 was renamed ‘Le Car’). Renault 5 was renowned for its avant-garde design, versatility and fuel frugality. It addressed the challenges of its times for millions of families, responding to changing lifestyles and global issues. The French company see the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric continuing this tradition and responding to the societal and environmental issues of modern times – energy consciousness, sustainability and a small carbon footprint.
Despite the retro vibes though, there’s plenty of current technology behind its classic look. Styling-wise, the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric is virtually identical to the concept car Renault unveiled almost three years ago. Renault say the production model has, “all the magic and charm” of the show-car, and it was developed in just three years, compared with the usual four. Packed with electrical and digital technology and entirely manufactured in France, the Group drew upon its full range of expertise, and particularly that of Renault Ampere – the Renault Group entity specialising in electric vehicles and software – and Mobilize. This new multi-specialist organisation was set up by Renault to keep up to date with technological changes in the sector through an agile, agnostic and innovative approach. For example, Ampere brought Renault an undeniable competitive advantage, with the rapid development of an original platform dedicated to small electric vehicles, along with a strong European industrial ecosystem. As a result, Renault was able to develop a new range of electric vehicles, with the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric leading the charge.
Style it out
When Renault 5 was launched in 1972, it turned heads with its original and modern design. Its plastic bumpers, brightly coloured bodywork and headlights gave it a mischievous look, almost like a human face. Positioned to reflect the changing face of society, it was an immediate hit with French buyers, particularly women and young people, a new customer base for the time. It was a breath of fresh air, symbolising freedom and joie de vivre.
Keen to maintain those values, the Renault design team adopted a ‘retrofuturistic’ style for the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric: bright colours, headlamps with a cheeky look, vertical rear lights, sculpted wings, a coloured roof trim, vent grille on the bonnet and more. The idea was to give a fresh twist to the details that live on in people’s minds, in keeping with the 21st century and the electric transition.
To that end, the vent grille on the bonnet of the original car has been reinvented to keep up with the times. Today, it is a charge indicator in the form of the iconic number 5. When the driver approaches the vehicle, it lights up, illustrating the close interaction between human and machine. Another example of a humanised interface is the welcome sequence of the pupil-shaped LED headlights, which ‘wink’ at the driver. Absent from the original Renault 5 but essential today for optimal efficiency are the aerodynamic features. Today, they are present but invisible, like the streamlined glass placed over the rear lights to optimise the airflow.
“We used pieces of collective memory that we translated in a very contemporary way to create the R5 of tomorrow,” said Gilles Vidal, VP Design, Renault, and Ampere. “We didn’t want the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric to feel nostalgic or vintage. We wanted to triggering emotion and created a vibrant, energetic, and POP car.”
So, while the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric retains the boxy side profile of its predecessors, the low, wheel-at-each-corner stance give it a sportier look than some of its closest rivals, say an MG4 or BYD Dolphin.
But the main difference to the 70s and 80s iterations is of course that this model is electric. It’s available with two battery options, which offer a range of up to 248 miles. There’s also a hi-tech infotainment system with integrated Google services, a variety of upholstery options for the interior, including an essential wicker basket with which you can transport a baguette. Really.
Keeping with the interior, the two-step dashboard includes a 10” infotainment screen, and a 7” digital driver’s display also comes as standard, although for some models a 10” unit is available. Apps such as Google Maps are also built in.
As with its antecedents, the Renault E-Tech Electric is available with front-wheel drive only. However, there are three power outputs to choose from: the entry-level cars have 95hp and get from 0-60mph in 12 seconds. The mid-range 123hp version does the same in 9.0 seconds, while the 150hp motor does it in 7.9 seconds. Respectable, but not quite the hot hatch that might be expected.
The power is supplied by two battery packs: a 40kWh pack offering 186 miles of range, and a larger 52kWh battery, which gives 249 miles of range. Both battery options will take around 30 minutes to charge from 15-80% from a DC fast charger.
But the best thing about the Renault E-Tech Electric is the price: when it goes on sale in France later in the year it’ll cost from €25,000 (£22,000) – that’s considerably less than the aforementioned MG4 or BYD Dolphin.
“The R5 is a vehicle that is both popular and avant-garde, providing new solutions for the times it’s living in,” says Fabrice Cambolive, CEO Renault brand. “That was the case in 1972. It will still be the case in 2024. Our teams have put a great deal of passion, excellence, and hard work into developing Renault 5 E-tech electric. This passion and the love we’ve put into this car are highly contagious. The R5 has a single target: the hearts of our customers. It will leave its mark on the history of the brand.”
Small is practical
The Renault 5 E-Tech electric is a design masterstroke,” says Fabrice Cambolive, CEO Renault brand, “A new brain with cutting-edge technologies and electric legs based on a new-generation platform that is unique in Europe: AmpR Small.”
The design of a vehicle is usually adapted to the platform on which it is to be built. But in the case of the Renault E-Tech Electric however, the engineers worked in reverse, developing the platform for the design with a resin mock-up created by the Advanced Design department. Renault 5 E-Tech electric is the first vehicle to be designed entirely on AmpR Small, the new Ampere platform dedicated to B-segment electric vehicles. This makes it a vehicle with real competitive advantages including a flat floor, long wheelbase (2.54m), optimised interior space and boot capacity (326 litres), lower centre of gravity and reduced weight (less than 1,500 kg). The AmpR Small platform has also brought economies of scale in many areas without compromising on the electrical components or technologies that are useful to customers. Through this disruptive approach, implemented for the first time, Renault was able to cut the development time to just three years.
