Production-ready Renault 5 Turbo 3E Bows With 536 HP and 1,980-Unit Run

Remember the wild and radical Renault 5 Turbo 3E concept revealed late last year? It has progressed into a production-ready state pictured.

Remember the radical and wild Renault 5 Turbo 3E concept revealed back in Dec? well, the French silver diamond marque is keeping true to its promise of putting it into production, hence the today’s revelation of production-bound version of said concept.

Renault also expressed that putting the Renault 5 Turbo 3E into production is a “dream come true”, and that this electric reincarnation of the legendary Renault 5 Turbo from 1980 has helped to create a new electric “mini-supercar” segment too.

Visually unchanged from the concept stage, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E takes heavy inspiration from the iconic Renault 5 Turbo from 1980.

"Essentially there were no restrictions with this. I think we're living in quite a good era in design at Renault Group at the moment. All our dreams seem to be coming true, and to do a little car with these proportions is a dream,” adds Laurens van den Acker, Renault Group design chief.

Versus the initial concept, this final production version appears virtually unchanged, with the only change here being the newly added RS badges on its B-pillars. Otherwise, it remains as a radically low and wide, two-doored and two-seater redux of the Renault 5 EV hatch.

Heavy inspiration form the iconic 1980 homologation special is evident in the ultra-wide body and stance, which is complemented further by the massive 20-inch rolling stock.

In terms of footprint and size, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E sits some 4,080 MM long with a 2,570 MM wheelbase, 2,030 MM wide, and 1,380 MM tall. Renault also highlights a claimed 1,450 KG kerb weight figure too – relatively low thanks to the rich use of carbon fibre exterior panels.

Adding to its stance, the ultra-wide body was inspired by the original 1980s homologation special mentioned earlier. Rolling stock, on the other hand, sees massive and distinctively-styled 20-inch wheels shod at each corner.

Underneath, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E underpins an advanced 800-volt architecture housing a 70 kWh battery pack, 350 kW DC charging ability, and a peppy dual-motor, AWD setup.

Said radical looks masks an advanced 800-volt architecture base underneath, which packs both a sizeable 70 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive (AWD) configuration.

Altogether, the latter drivetrain setup delivers a whopping 533 HP and a ludicrous peak torque of 4,800 NM (total wheel torque, not motor torque). In turn, this promises lighting quick century sprints in less than 3.5 secs plus a respectable 270 KM/H V-max too.

Renault touts a WLTP-rated range of 400 KM, where as 350 KW DC charging abilities sees the Renault 5 Turbo 3E re-charge from 15% to 80% in just 15 minutes.

As for charging and range, Renault touts a WLTP-rated maximum of 400 KM for the former. The latter sees the automaker priming an on-board charger (OBC) that accepts 11 kW AC and up to 350 kW DC inputs, the latter enabling 15-80% re-charges in just 15 minutes too.

Inside, the cabin is furnished with a pair of Alcantara bucket seats with six-point harnesses, dash covered in hand-woven tartan cloth, a slew of weight-reducing carbon, as well as the same 10.1-inch instrument panel and 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen from regular Renault 5 E-Tech.

Notably, said digital instrumentation does boast a bespoke 1980s-inspired look. Further flair – or typical French ‘quirk’, if you will – also stems from the driver's seat being upholstered in its own colour.

Just 1,980 units of the Renault 5 Turbo 3E will be produced, and each is speculated to command at least a six-figure European price tag.

Moving on to availability and, as expected, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E will be yet another limited-run special – just like the original 1980s icon that inspired it. In fact, just 1,980 units are planned, with said figure reflecting the debut year of said original rally-bred homologation special.

Renault is set to open the order books for this special in the coming weeks with sale in right-hand-drive (RHD) markets like Japan and Australia also planned. Though there seems to be no firm pricing yet, expect each unit to command a six-figure European price tag to begin with.