The legendary Renault 5 Turbo returns as an electric ‘mini-supercar’

When you think of the most legendary rally cars of all time, the Renault 5 Turbo is surely near the top of the list. A showcase of the French automotive industry at its best (and maddest), the mid-engined hot hatch won on its debut WRC outing at the 1981 Rallye Monte-Carlo, cementing the legacy of what was the first turbo-petrol French production car.

Now, having experienced great success with the rebooted and retro-styled Renault 5 which is the reigning European Car of the Year winner, the inimitably French brand is finally bringing back its extreme, rally-bred sibling.

Officially the Renault 5 Turbo 3E, the brand is claiming this creation as a ‘mini-supercar’, which it views as an entirely new class of vehicle. Positioned above the R5 E-Tech city car and sporty Alpine A290, only 1980 examples are set to be sold globally in honour of the year the original was unveiled. 

The R5 Turbo 3E’s mere 2570mm wheelbase should mean it's quite lively, even with this new electric version featuring all-wheel drive (Image: Renault)

Built on a bespoke (trigger warning) all-electric platform developed alongside Alpine, the numbers are certainly supercar-esque. Delivering nearly 403kW (540hp), it can scoot from 0-100km/h in just 3.5 seconds on its way to a 270km/h top speed. 

A 70kWh battery should deliver 400km driving range if you’re sensible behind the wheel, which it’s unlikely you’d want to be in a car like this.

Unlike the rear-wheel drive original, it is all-wheel drive, but it still ought to be a bit raucous given its mere 4080mm length and 2570mm wheelbase, only marginally larger than the standard R5. However, only the front windscreen, door handles and rear tail-lights are shared with the standard model.

In keeping with the ‘mini-supercar’ billing, this new model will be highly customisable in terms of both its exterior livery and interior trim.

When people talk about a ‘widebody’ car, this epitomises that completely (Image: Renault)

Of course, the fact this new Renault 5 Turbo is an EV means it won’t be to the taste of all fans of the original, but the company is at least aware of the challenge of this move.

“Reinterpreting the legendary Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2 is a bold challenge,” notes Gilles Vidal, Renault’s vice president of design. “We have preserved their exuberance and racing spirit while integrating modern technologies and optimized aerodynamics for the electric era. Every line, every volume expresses a balance between performance and character.”

While the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is confirmed to be going on sale Australia with deliveries slated for 2027, it’s unclear just how many examples will make the journey Down Under or just how much it will cost.