Renault 5 Turbo 3E debuts with retro-charged 540+ e-horses

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The Renault 5 E-Tech electric hatch, which debuted last year as a homage to the original Renault 5, now has a hot-hatch sibling. I know exactly what you’re thinking, and you’re right. The “turbo” in the name Renault 5 Turbo 3E is just as real as the “turbo” in the Porsche Taycan Turbo. But the car is indeed a real one, and if you want one, you’ll need fast fingers when the reservations open in the next few weeks, because the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is a limited edition model, limited to 1,980 numbered units. Pricing is expected to be announced in the coming days/months, but just to give you an idea, the regular Renault 5 in France starts from €23,990 (after a €4,000 ecological bonus discount). Deliveries will commence in 2027.

While the original Renault 5 Turbo looked a lot aggressive than the regular Renault 5, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E pushes the aggressiveness to the max and then some. Extra-wide fender flares, large air outlets on the bonnet, side fins, roof spoiler with air outlets, extra-large rear diffuser, and 20-inch wheels, just to name a few. Notice those NACA duct-like scoops in front of the rear fender? One of those integrates a charging socket.

The ‘3E’ in the name is not suggestive of three electric motors. This electric hot-hatch has two in-wheel motors at the rear, making it a rear-wheel-drive car—just like the original Renault 5 Turbo. The claimed output figures are 400 kW (544 metric hp) and 4,800 Nm (3,540 lb-ft). Claimed performance figures are as follows: 0-100 km/h (62 mph): less than 3.5 seconds, 0-200 km/h (124 mph): less than 9 seconds, and a top speed of 270 km/h (168 mph). Despite being built around a so-called carbon superstructure, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E weighs 1,450 kg (3,197 lbs) empty.

The car comes with a 70 kWh battery pack, estimated to offer a WLTP range of over 400 km (248 mi). The battery pack can be DC fast-charged with up to 350 kW.

The interior looks just as racy as the outside. Key highlights include carbon bucket seats with six-point harnesses, Alcantara upholstery throughout, rally-style vertical handbrake, and 10.1-inch and 10.25-inch OpenR screens.