Renault is ramping up the excitement around its upcoming electric R5, a model that blends nostalgia and innovation. This highly anticipated electric city car is gradually revealing its silhouette, its price and its autonomy.
Nostalgia when you hold us. The French manufacturer shares some key details on the design, cost and autonomy of its future electric R5 E-Tech. It is positioned as a turning point in the history of the brand by bridging the gap between an icon of the past and a future electric best-seller. Announced in the electrification plan Renaulution by Luca de Meo, it is supposed to facilitate access to electric mobility with an offer that starts below 25,000 euros.
Heritage in design
The electric R5 E-Tech pays homage to its thermal predecessor, the Renault R5, with distinctive design elements. The headlights, with their unique shape and a central motif, create a pupil effect, while a tricolor flag integrated under the left front light highlights its French roots. The widened wings are reminiscent of the R5 Turbo and help to energize the silhouette. The vertical taillights are clearly a legacy of the lighting signature of the first R5 of the name.
But the most significant remains the air intake on the hood of the historic model
which disappears to make way for a charge indicator on the Renault 5 E-Tech whose graphics form the number “5” when the charge is complete. Of course, it’s a gimmick, but it’s this kind of gimmick that will appeal to an urban and trendy clientele. In addition, Renault announces that inside the vehicle, reno, the official avatar will make its first appearance. We do not know more at the moment, but the manufacturer announces that this “new generation humanized co-pilot will offer a completely immersive digital experience in the Renault universe for new driving and life experiences on board “. An entire program !
A new platform
In reality, it is above all what is hidden under the hood that interests us and the R5 E-Tech arouses our curiosity since it will release for the first time the new AmpR Small platform (formerly CMF-B EV) designed to provide “ real driving pleasure “. Note, however, that the presence of a multi-link rear axle generally reserved for the upper segment may indeed corroborate this marketing message and ensure a certain agility and good road holding.
The Renault 5 E-Tech, with a length of 3.92 meters, will offer two electric battery variants. At launch, it will be equipped with a 52 kWh battery, and later, a version with a 40 kWh battery will complete the range. Although on paper these capacities seem sufficient, the maximum range of 400 km according to the WLTP cycle may seem limited. The actual performance of this autonomy will strongly depend on the speed of recharging, an aspect not yet specified.
In addition, the R5 E-Tech wants to position itself at the forefront with its bidirectional charging system, integrating V2G (vehicle-to-network) technology. This innovation, which will be accessible in France and Germany from 2024, and in the United Kingdom in 2025, will allow the car to contribute to the electricity network, with the capacity to store and possibly reinject energy. However, this function requires the use of a specific charging station.
Prices and availability
The entry-level price of Renault R5 E-Tech will be around 25,000 euros. The city car will be revealed on February 26 at the Geneva International Motor Show.
In addition, Renault is offering from today a wire cutter type pass called R5 R Pass. It will allow potential buyers to reserve the new Renault 5 electric 10 days in advance of the official launch of orders. Purchasers will have the advantage of being given priority on the production line at the ElectriCity factory in Douai and will be delivered from autumn 2024. In addition, they will receive a miniature replica of the electric Renault 5 E-Tech and will benefit from Exclusive access to special content and Renault events. THE R5 R Passpriced at 150 euros, is available in seven participating countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands) via the site www.renault.fr/r5.
Source : Renault
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