Renault R5 Turbo 3E is an electric with 380 hp

playing at home, Renault prepares a great Paris Motor Show, with electric models scheduled to appear soon, from a more powerful version, GT Turbo style, from the new battery-powered R5 to the return of the R4 as an electric SUV, as well as new range-enhancing features proposed by Alpine. But first, the French constructor decided pay homage to one of its most emblematic and sporty modelsthe small but agile R5 Turbo two-seater, with a mid-engine and rear-wheel drive, offers a electric version, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E.

The R5 Turbo, as it appeared in 1980, mounted in a central position an old 1.4-liter engine that equipped the most economical models of the French brand, only powered by Renault Sport to reach 160 hp. To simplify production and contain costs, the gearbox was derived from another in-house model, the R30, but what strengthened his reputation were the successes in the competition with the R5 Turbo Cévennes, Tour de Corse and Maxi Turbo, the latter exceeding 385 hp, especially when Jean Ragnotti was at the wheel.

To honor this past, and even before revealing the new electric R5 in a “GT Turbo” version, the manufacturer designed the Renault 5 Turbo 3E. Starting from a tubular chassis, under which a battery with a capacity of 42 kWh was installed, the electric R5 Turbo mounts two electric motors on the rear axle that add up to 280 kW, about 380 hp and 700 Nm.

With the same height (1.32 m) as the old R5 Turbo petrol, but 25cm wider (2.02 m), the R5 Turbo 3E still mounts a imposing rear spoiler. The body is made of carbon fiber, with some areas of transparent material so you can see the electrical components that give it life. Despite this effort to contain its weight, the electric R5 Turbo weighs 980 kg when placed on the scale, a value that rises to 1500 kg if we add the 520 kg of the battery. But that doesn’t stop you from going from From 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds.

But the R5 Turbo 3E has several cards up its sleeve and in all of them trump card is fun behind the wheel. The instrument panel lifts one corner of the veil showing 10 small touch screens, each referring to a different driving mode and with names that deviate from the usual. Starting the car is something you can do by pressing free play, so drift mode (those huge controlled drifts as the rear tires go up in smoke) kicks in as soon as you hit turbo, while optimizing the model for making tops appears when we activate the “donut” mode. This Renault 5 Turbo 3E will not be marketedbut it will be accessible to everyone through video games.