Throughout history, the French have been considered the mad scientists of the automotive world. Sometimes they produce absurd ideas and other times works of art that are era-defining. The latest chapter in this story comes from Renault in the form of a tribute to the brand’s rich rally heritage.
While hot hatchbacks are certainly a dying breed, even in Europe where smaller cars are still fairly popular, Renault has decided to develop the ultimate hot hatch. This electric supercar sounds absolutely terrifying on paper, and it makes us more than a little bit sad that we won’t see it at all here in North America.
Taking a dive into Renault’s latest creation, we explore how the brand aims to put every other hot hatch on the market to shame. This limited-run model features some absurd performance figures, which we outline in detail. We also explore some of the other French models we’re missing out on and whether or not brands like Renault have a future in North America.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Renault websites and other authoritative sources, including TopSpeed and Top Gear.
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The Renault 5 Turbo 3E Pays Homage To The Brand’s Rally History
Any rally historian will be able to tell you how legendary the original Renault 5 Turbo was. It changed the hot hatch game forever by mounting a turbocharged engine where the rear seats usually went. Renault is hoping to recapture some of the magic of the original Renault 5 Turbo with a brand-new electric hot hatch that will sell in limited numbers.
A Meaner Renault 5 E-Tech
Earlier this year, the French automaker showcased the upcoming Renault 5 E-Tech, a revival of a beloved nameplate. It showcased some nostalgia-inspiring design elements and has already made those of us in North America jealous of the buyers in Europe who will get their hands on this fantastic little hatchback. A revival of the Renault 5 nameplate instantly made us suspicious that something else might be in the works.
Recently, Renault announced a limited-run sporty version of the little hatchback, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E. This low-slung machine features styling elements pulled straight from the rallying hot hatch from the 1980s. It is slung lower and sports a fantastic-looking livery. On the inside, it has also been overhauled to reflect the racing DNA it boasts. The company plans to only build 1,980 units, and they will all be sold in select markets around the world, excluding North America.
The History Behind The Renault 5 Turbo
The Renault 5 Turbo is one of the most legendary cars that the French brand has ever produced. Back in the 70s, Lancia was dominating the world of rally racing, generating a ton of success with the mid-engine Stratos. As a result, Renault decided that they wanted to bolster the Renault 5 Alpine supermini and take the world by storm with an impressive new hot hatchback.
Where the standard Renault 5 featured a front-mounted engine, the Renault 5 Turbo instead made use of a mid-engine setup, with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-banger sitting behind the driver. It sported new and thrilling bodywork that set it apart from the standard Renault 5. It saw a ton of success in the rally world, including winning the Monte Carlo rally on its first outing in 1981.
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Rear-Wheel Drive and 536 Horsepower are a Potent Combination
Front 3/4 action shot of the Renault 5 Turbo 3E
Reviving the Renault 5 Turbo nameplate means that there is a lot of pressure to deliver a truly impressive hot hatch. Renault has obviously considered the weight of the task they’ve undertaken as the new Renault 5 Turbo 3E looks incredibly impressive on paper. This could be a catalyst that reignites the passion for the hot hatchback category.
Performance Specifications
|
Powertrain |
2x Electric Motors |
|
Horsepower |
536 HP |
|
Torque |
3,540 LB-FT |
|
Driveline |
RWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
3.5 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
167 MPH |
Renault has built what is essentially a supercar in a hatchback’s body. It makes use of two electric motors which power each of the rear wheels, producing a huge amount of power and a torque figure that seems downright outrageous. The torque figure likely refers to wheel torque rather than motor torque, but it is still impressive nonetheless. All this power means that the little hatchback will be capable of rocketing to 60 miles per hour in no time at all.
While there are some other electric supercars with more impressive power figures, the new Renault 5 Turbo 3E only weighs around 3,200 pounds. In terms of an electric vehicle, that is practically nothing. While we’re yet to see just how impressive this car is to drive, on paper it sounds like an absolute blast. It could even be enough to convince some that electric sports cars can truly be fun.
There is no denying that the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is meant to be a performance-first machine. This is obvious in a number of different choices that Renault has made. There will only be seating available for the driver plus one, with the seats being pretty aggressive, sporting bucket seats. It also sports a pretty noticeable roll cage on the inside and a rally handbrake for sharp drifts around the racetrack.
Battery and Charging
Being an electric car, one of the most important figures that owners will want to consider is the range. Being so performance-oriented, we don’t see the Renault 5 Turbo 3E offering particularly impressive range figures, especially if you drive it as hard as Renault intends you to. It features a 70 kWh battery pack, which isn’t large by modern standards but isn’t particularly small either. Renault claims this will net you a range of around 248 miles.
Renault claims that the new electric hot-hatch will feature 800V technology, which at least means that you’ll be able to charge it back up fairly quickly. The French automaker currently claims that the R5 Turbo 3E will charge from 15 to 80 percent capacity in as little as 15 minutes. This is crucial considering how quickly it will likely eat through the battery pack when you slam your foot to the floor.
Renault Promises a Ton of Customization
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is clearly a project that leans heavily into retro styling and nostalgia. As part and parcel of this approach, the French brand has promised buyers a choice of a number of different color schemes and liveries that will call back to the history of the Renault 5. On top of this, they promise that you will be able to custom-build your own livery, meaning that your Renault 5 Turbo 3E could be totally unique, unlike any other model produced.
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We Won’t Get The Regular Renault 5 or Its Alpine Cousin Either
Front 3/4 action shot of a 2025 Renault 5 E-Tech
Renault is a brand that we haven’t really ever seen in North America, with a couple of exceptions. This means that we’ve missed out on some absolute bangers over the years. It is true that we won’t be getting the high-performance Renault 5 Turbo 3E, but we’re also missing out on a number of other exciting models, like the Renault 5 E-Tech and its slightly higher-performance Alpine variant.
The Renault 5 E-Tech
|
Powertrain |
1x Electric Motors |
|
Horsepower |
147 HP |
|
Driveline |
FWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
7.9 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
93 MPH |
Hatchbacks have fallen off quite dramatically in the North American market, which is quite a shame in our opinion. However, there is a clear trend in the market right now where consumers are downsizing. Small and cheap electric hatchbacks could definitely find a niche, especially when they’re as stylish and interesting as the Renault 5. It is slated to come in two different forms, with one featuring a 40 kWh battery pack and the other with a bit more power and a 52 kWh battery pack.
Renault has also split itself from Alpine, with the latter exclusively developing performance-oriented models. The Alpine A290 offers a slightly hotter experience than the regular Renault model. This model tops out at 217 horsepower, which is capable of propelling the hatch from zero to 60 miles per hour in as little as 6.4 seconds. It also gets firmer suspension and a number of other mechanical upgrades that make it feel a little sleeker.
Alpine Plans To Re-Enter The North American Market
For those of you who are enamored by French vehicles, particularly cars like the Renault 5 Turbo 3E, the future isn’t all bleak. Alpine has some pretty aggressive plans for global expansion, including bringing its next-generation A110 sports coupe to Canada. While this doesn’t mean that we will see models like the R5 Turbo 3E on North American shores any time soon, it means that the future is bright for those of us who enjoy a little bit of the daft engineering that comes out of French automakers.
