Among the things that we can recognize in Renault, there is a certain ability to occupy the field. Thus, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the city chip, the legendary Renault R5, and while awaiting the arrival of the future new electric R5, the manufacturer has imagined the Renault R5 Turbo 3E.
This show car, or demonstration car, is a tribute to the supercharged versions of the Renault 5, in particular the mythical R5 Turbo of 1981. And on the demonstrative side, we would rather be in superlatives with the R5 Turbo 3E, whose design seems to have been inspired of the world of video games. If the front end is spectacular with its three air intakes, what about those arranged on either side of the rear wings, in carbon fiber, which evoke the overinflated wings of the one who has been dozens of times champion of Rally.
In terms of dimensions, the R5 Turbo 3E rolls out under the fathom a length of 4.006 meters including the enormous fin worthy of an Oktoberfest table, a width of 2.02 m (more than a Lamborghini Countach) for only 1, 32m high. As for the wheelbase, it is 2.54 m.
On the scale, this Renault R5 Turbo 3E displays 1500 kg, including 520 kg of battery. This is based on 19-inch rims (225/35 R19) at the front and 20-inch at the rear (325/25 R20).
Rear drive and drift mode
Anchored in its time, this R5 Turbo 3E is 100% electric. It is equipped with two electric motors each driving a wheel of the rear axle, developing 280 kW (380 hp) and a torque of 700 Nm, powered by a battery of “only” 42 kWh. The maximum speed is 200 km/h and the 0 to 100 km/h is shot in 3.5 seconds, against 3.9 s in… drift mode.
Because the particularity of this bombinette with propulsion is that it embeds a mode dedicated to sliding. It has a hydraulic handbrake, and is able to steer its front wheels at more than 50° to control the trajectory while sliding. There is also a roll bar, recognized by the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
Inside, two bucket seats, whose Scottish tartan pattern is a nod to the carefree 80s, are present. On the dashboard side, we find the ten small dials of the Turbo, but in a digital version and taking the form of widgets, already seen on the Renault Scenic Vision concept. We note the presence of Drifty, a teddy bear whose “mission is to relax and comfort passengers seized by the power of the show car“. On the other hand, Renault does not communicate on the presence or not of plastic bags for the passenger…
This Renault R5 Turbo 3E that the young Takumi Fujiwara, hero of the manga series, would not have denied Initial Dor Sean Boswell (Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift) will be visible at the Concours d’Elegance in Chantilly in the Oise on September 24 and 25, as well as at the Mondial de l’Auto, in Paris, taking place from October 17 to 23, 2022. We dream that this concept will make its way day a way to the production lines…