The 5 is the first in a wave of upcoming retro EVs from Renault; gets up to 400km range.
The Renault 5 EV has been unveiled in production guise at the Geneva Motor Show as the first model in a wave of new retro electric cars that the French carmaker is going to introduce over the next couple of years. Taking heavy inspiration from the 1970s original, the new road-going Renault 5 remains a faithful translation of the acclaimed concept from 2021.
- Gets two battery options – 40kWh and 52kWh
- Has a maximum claimed range of 400km
- Design stays largely similar to concept from 2021
Renault 5 EV underpinnings, battery, range
The 5 is based on a new EV architecture dubbed Ampr Small (formerly CMF-BEV), which shares much of its core structure with that used for the Nissan Juke and Renault Clio. Using the fundamentals of an existing platform is said to have cut development costs by 30 percent, compared with engineering a bespoke platform like that which underpins the electric Fiat 500.
The 5 will be offered with two battery packs – a 40kWh unit and a larger 52kWh unit. The nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries use a new simplified layout in which cells are batched into larger square-shaped modules, thereby helping save some weight. As such, the 5 tips the scales at just 1372kg with the entry-level 40kWh battery. With the bigger 52kWh pack, the 5 weighs 1449kg. Renault claims a range of 300km for the 40kWh car and 400km for the 52kWh version.
The 5 will be offered with a choice of three motor outputs: 95hp, 123hp and 150hp, with the mid-rung option claimed to deliver 0-100kph in less than 8.0 seconds. Cars with the smaller battery get 80kW DC fast-charging capabilities; 52kWh cars are boosted to 100kW. In either guise, the 5 is able to supply up to 11kW to external devices via its charging port.
Renault 5 EV exterior design
The exterior is a blend of retro and modern cues, based largely on the concept but adopting a few subtle modifications for production: the front lighting signatures have been reworked, for example, so the headlight projectors now use more conventional blocks of LEDs, rather than the diffuse units on the concept.
A charging indicator has been integrated into the offset hump on the bonnet, which references the asymmetrical cooling vent on the original 5. This indicator fills a ‘5’ logo with light to represent the level of charge left in the batteries, allowing drivers to quickly gauge range without having to get in the car or check the app. Otherwise, the front end retains its blend of hard edges and swooping curves, mimicking the original 5.
The rear is similarly faithful to the concept, although the light bar that previously spanned the width of the hatch is gone. It has been replaced with a slab of black plastic bearing a ‘Renault’ word mark and new ‘5’ badging.
Aerodynamics were a key consideration in adapting the concept for production: the roof-mounted lip spoiler, which harks back to the 5 Turbo, nets a claimed 8km of range; the mid-range Techno trim’s clean-faced alloy wheels gain another 8; and the slatted rear-light design provides a boost of about 6km.
Renault 5 EV interior, features
As well as finally making its technical specifications official, Renault has also for the first time revealed the 5’s interior, which melds the clean-cut styling of the Mégane with a brutalistic look inspired by the classic 5 Turbo.
The 10.0-inch instrument and infotainment screens are encased in chunky plastic shrouds designed to recall the homologation special’s analogue gauges, while the seats feature thick, corduroy-style padded inserts.
The dashboard, too, is inspired by the rally car, protruding into the cabin like a shelf and trimmed in one of several distinctive textiles depending on the chosen spec level. Techno, for example, features swathes of denim. In all cases, leather is omitted, and 18 percent of the car’s material content is recycled, including 41kg of polymers.
Renault 5 EV production
The Renault 5’s motors will be produced at the Cléon factory, which built engines for the original 5, as well as many other models including the Alpine A110, Renault Estafette van and even early Twingos. Vehicle assembly will take place alongside the Mégane E-Tech at Douai, where batteries will also be produced when a new gigafactory is opened in mid-2025.
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