The Renault 5 will return as a pure electric supermini and the firm has given us our first look at the new EV with the Renault 5 Prototype.
Described as “the rebirth of a cult car, more modern than ever,” the 100 percent electric car pays homage to the top-selling original but with a modern twist.
It’s part of Renault’s plan to ‘reconnect with its past’.
The firm has lofty sales goals for the new electric Renault 5 too, saying it will “democratise the electric car in Europe”.
The bright yellow prototype is proudly based on the original R5, said design director Gilles Vidal.
“This prototype simply embodies modernity, a vehicle relevant to its time: urban, electric, attractive.”
Renault 5 Prototype: in detail
The electric Renault 5 Prototype references the original R5 in numerous ways – and cleverly makes some of them functional.
For example, the bonnet air intake hides the charging hatch; the rear lights included wind-cheating aero flaps and the fog lamps in the bumper are also daytime running lights.
Mr Vidal references the original ‘5’ with the side vent, wheels and rear logo.
Front and rear logos light up and there’s a French flag on the rear-view mirrors to underline the “invented in France” ethos.
Renault says both the front end and textile roof are inspired by the world of furniture and are also “full of French charm”.
The new electric Renault 5 is expected to launch by 2025 and will rival other retro-themed small EVs such as the Fiat 500 Electric, Mini Electric and Honda e.
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