Renault 5 TURBO 3E is a dazzling car – inspired by the Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2, 1980s and 1990s videogames and the drifting and competition worlds – and was unveiled for the world at the Chantilly Arts et Élégance 2022 contest.
An electrifying homage to the Renault 5 Turbo
R5 TURBO 3E is self-explanatorily a contemporary tribute to the time-honoured Renault 5 Turbo cars: “3” because it follows the Turbo 2 and “E” because it is all-electric.
This electric racing car’s performances are extraordinary: it can dart across 100 metres from standstill in only 3.5 seconds (3.9 seconds in Drift mode) and reach a top speed of 200 km/h.
Renault 5 TURBO 3E is so much more than a show car: it is a thoroughbred drifter, all-electric and a rear-wheel drive. And it is engineered for tracks with 280 kW (eq. 380 hp) under the bonnet and 700 Nm of instantly available torque.
Like its predecessors, it is strictly a two-seater. The rear houses the powertrain, which is made up of two electric motors, each moving one of the wheels. The 42 kWh battery and 50°-plus steering angle provide plenty of power and sprightliness for several laps or a raging gymkhana.
Its motor sports soul shines through its carbon-fibre body built onto a tubular chassis, its flat base and its roll bars approved by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) in the cockpit.
A muscular drifter with an exuberant and fun style
The huge spoiler is a statement in itself: Renault R5 TURBO 3E’s mechanical might and stunning looks make it a formidable racing car. The designers’ inspiration was off the charts and the result is as spectacular as it is daunting.
Large air inlets at the front and in the wings add downforce and cool the mechanism. The inlets and the fog lights resemble the ones on the Renault 5 Turbo 2.
Every blast from the past comes with a fun and functional twist. The best example is the air inlet on the bonnet, which houses the opening for the battery charging socket.
Renault 5 TURBO 3E plays on light. The transparent parts of the bodywork, especially at the rear, are windows into the stunning electric mechanism. The pink, blue and yellow LED strips light up and flash when the car drifts. The camouflage-like stickers on the carbon-fibre body hint at 1980s and 1990s videogames. And the Plexiglas windows are pink, to see life through rose-tinted glasses – as the sticker reading “La vie en rose” encourages you to do.
Competitive, pop and gaming-inspired inside
Matching the exterior, R5 TURBO 3E’s cockpit is full of winks at motor sports competition, the videogame universe and, naturally, the Renault 5 and Renault 5 Turbo 2 icons and their era.
The imposing upright handbrake lever in the middle of the centre console is pop yellow and there to remind you that this car is a drifter. The driver and passenger in the carbon-fibre racing bucket seats equipped with safety harnesses are all set to “play.” The driver can do it with the dashboard containing 10 digital screens that work like widgets. To start the car, you have to press the “Free play” button on the centre console. In the same spirit, the various driving modes have been renamed “Turbo” for drifting, “Track invader” for playing and “Donut” for 360° spins. The passenger can relax and snuggle up with Drifty, a teddy bear.
In this atmosphere intermingling retro gaming and motor-sports competition, the seats and dashboard radiate a 1980s’ feel from the yellow and pink hues and a grey and black tartan pattern.
A drifting session or gymkhana in Renault 5 TURBO 3E is an experience you will not forget anytime soon.
