After long anticipation, Renault lifts the veil on its new electric city car, the electric R5 E-Tech. Fully embracing the neo-retro style, it evokes nostalgia and pop culture, aiming for high aspirations. However, beyond its appearance, does it have the necessary assets to establish itself in a highly competitive sector?
Under the aegis of Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault, the electric R5, called R5 E-Tech, is making its debut. Although its exterior design and aesthetic elements are already familiar to us, questions remained around the discovery of its interior and its technical characteristics. While we don’t have all the answers yet, it is confirmed that it will be offered with two battery options, offering a range of 300 to 400 km.
Equipped with advanced technologies, the R5 E-Tech integrates Google Automotive and the Reno virtual assistant, enriched by ChatGPT, as well as V2G and Plug in Charge functionalities. But will this be enough to attract a very competitive electricity market which is experiencing some slowdowns?
A retro, yet energetic silhouette
Drawing inspiration from the original 1972 R5 and its Turbo version, the R5 E-Tech is distinguished by a bold and energetic design. While maintaining a neo-retro style, it is adorned with futuristic touches such as a charge indicator on the hood, innovative daytime running lights, playful winks via the LED headlights, as well as a dynamic silhouette emphasizing its emotional character . Its compact, low and sporty shape encourages dynamic driving, thanks in particular to its reduced overhangs.
The R5 E-Tech is the first Renault model designed on the platform
Ampere AmpR Small, specially developed for electricity. This architecture gives it several advantages, such as a flat floor, an extended wheelbase and a generous trunk volume of 326 liters. Thanks to the battery integrated into the floor, it benefits from a low center of gravity and a controlled weight (less than 1,500 kg) although the exact weight remains to be specified.
Technologies on board
Renault is seeking to rejuvenate its customer base with the R5 E-Tech, by focusing on innovative technologies. The interior incorporates certain design elements from the R5 Turbo such as the tulip seats or the quilted passenger dashboard. There are two 10-inch screens for the instrumentation and infotainment system under Google Automotive, providing a smooth and intuitive user experience. Renault also includes a route planner optimizing charging breaks. Manual heating controls have been retained, and that’s a good thing.
Two battery levels and three powers
Renault’s new electric city car will be offered with two battery capacity options, either 40 kWh or 52 kWh. With the lower capacity battery, the range could reach up to 300 km, while the model equipped with the larger battery could travel up to 400 km. These performances in terms of autonomy seem to be positioned in parallel with current offers on the market, in particular those of the Stellantis group, such as the Peugeot e-208, the Fiat 600e, and the Jeep Avenger for the superior battery option, as well as the Citroën ë-C3 for the lower option. It’s a little disappointing, we would have liked a more unique offer.
Concerning power, the R5 E-Tech will offer two configurations: a version of 95 hp (70 kW) and another of 120 hp (90 kW) for the model with the 40 kWh battery, and a version of 150 hp (110 kW) for the one equipped with the 52 kWh battery. There too, nothing to wake up at night.
The charging powers are fairly mundane, with an AC charging capacity of 11 kW and a DC charging capacity of 80 kW for the 40 kWh battery and 100 kW for the 52 kWh battery, both requiring around thirty minutes. for a significant recharge. As for autonomy and power, on paper it’s a little disappointing.
However, Renault’s R5 E-Tech stands out for several notable features beyond its main technical specifications. Its reduced overhangs and multi-link rear axle, combined with a low center of gravity, promise excellent stability and responsiveness on the road, qualities we can’t wait to test.
The layout of the driver’s area appears to have been meticulously designed to offer optimal ergonomics, with conveniently placed infotainment and climate controls.
The electric car for dummies
The R5 E-Tech aims to simplify the electric driving experience, in particular through the integration of a virtual assistant called Reno, which should be able to answer the 200 most common questions from drivers of electric vehicles who would be connected to ChatGPT, thus following the trend of many competitors such as Volkswagen for example. However, it is likely that this assistant only uses ChatGPT version 3.5.
In addition, the R5 E-Tech also integrates V2G charging technology,
allowing electricity to be reinjected into the network, a feature highlighted by Renault as a way to save money, although this requires the use of a compatible terminal. However, this feature presents a bit of a contradiction in our opinion, as the R5 E-Tech is primarily designed for urban use. However, V2G charging would be relevant mainly for those who can charge at home. But, in large cities, such as in Île-de-France, a large part of the population lives in apartments, which could limit the usefulness of this technology. Despite this, Renault deserves praise for making the charging process easier with the Plug & Charge function, which eliminates the need for subscription cards or bank card payments. An innovation for a vehicle in this category.
Price and availability
At the moment, the exact prices of the R5 E-Tech have not been officially revealed, but we do know that its base price will be less than 25,000 euros, with availability planned for fall 2024. At this time price point, the R5 E-Tech seems to offer a rich array of technologies and sports a particularly attractive design. However, the performance in terms of range, charging capacity and engine power for the base model does not particularly stand out. Not only are we excited to try it, but we’re also curious to see how the market will react.
Source : Renault
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