- The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is headed to production in 2027
- It has two in-wheel motors at the rear and a carbon fiber body.
- It uses a tailor-made electrical architecture with an 800V battery pack capable of accepting up to 350 kW.
Well, Renault is doing it. Late last year, when the French automaker revealed the 5 Turbo 3E electric super hatch, it said that the yellow monster would eventually go into production. Now, it’s official.
Set to roll off the production line in 2027, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is a modern, electric throwback to the iconic 5 Turbo and 5 Turbo 2 of the 1980s. Just like its gas-powered predecessors, the new electric “mini supercar” resembles the standard version of the iconic hot hatches, but turns the craziness dial to 11 under the skin.
Gone are the single front-mounted motor and 400-volt battery pack from the Renault 5. Instead, Renault used a bespoke platform with an 800V battery pack that feeds two in-wheel motors at the rear. The total output is 540 horsepower and Renault claims a zero to 62 miles per hour (0-100 kilometers per hour) sprint in under 3.5 seconds.
Being a two-door hatchback that’s just 157 inches (4 meters) long, every launch should be quite an experience. But it’s not just about sheer acceleration—the French automaker says the limited-run EV can drive up to 250 miles (400 km) on a full charge. And thanks to an impressive 350-kilowatt maximum charging speed, it can go from 15 to 80% state of charge in just 15 minutes.
The car weighs 3,197 pounds (1,450 kilograms), including the 70-kilowatt-hour battery. That's roughly the same as the regular Renault 5 with a 52-kWh battery, four doors and rear seats. The 5 Turbo 3E is wrapped in carbon fiber to keep the weight down and has just two seats and two doors.
Gallery: 2027 Renault 5 Turbo 3E production version
There’s a vertical handbrake lever inside—reminiscent of its predecessor’s rally heritage—as well as a roll cage, bucket seats with six-point harnesses and Alcantara scattered throughout the cabin.
Looks-wise, the production-spec model is nearly identical to last year’s prototype. That’s been something of a theme with Renault; we often see snazzy concepts showcased and then forgotten so it's extremely refreshing to see this enter production pretty much just as it was.
Renault said orders for the outlandish 5 Turbo 3E will begin in the coming weeks. There's no pricing at this time, but just 1,980 units will be made—a nod to the original 5 Turbo homologation special that went on sale in 1980. Look for the first units to roll off the assembly line in 2027. The Renault 5 Turbo 3E will be sold in Europe, Australia, Japan and the Middle East.
