Renault is serious about selling the wacky 5 Turbo 3E. After showing the concept in late 2024, the production version has just landed. It looks virtually identical, save for minor changes like adding an RS logo aft the B-pillars. It’s still a two-door, two-seater affair, whereas the regular Renault 5 has rear doors and five seats. Another significant difference stems from where the power goes – to the rear wheels instead of the front axle.
The widebody little monster takes after the original mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo / Turbo 2 and sits on massive 20-inch wheels. The bulging rear fenders host in-wheel motors – each with 268 horsepower (200 kilowatts). Yes, the electric hot hatch pumps out 536 hp. Torque is quoted at a ludicrous 3,540 pound-feet (4,800 Newton-meters), but that number likely represents wheel torque rather than motor torque. GMC did the same for the Hummer EV and Tesla with the Roadster. More recently, BMW listed an insane amount of torque for the Vision Driving Experience. The actual figure should roughly be 10 percent of the listed torque.
Photo by: Renault
The 5 Turbo 3E will do 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in around three seconds and max out at a respectable 168 mph (270 km/h). Even though it’s all about performance, the hardcore Renault EV is still going to have a decent range. The French automaker estimates a maximum of 249 miles (400 kilometers) in the WLTP cycle thanks to a 70-kWh battery pack.
Despite being a larger car with a bigger battery than the standard Renault 5, the “mini supercar” tips the scales at 3,197 pounds (1,450 kilograms). It weighs as much as the normal electric supermini fitted with the 52-kWh battery. The weight penalty was neutralized by mostly using carbon fiber inside and out. Getting rid of the rear doors and seats also helped. Until production starts, the company with the diamond logo will try to shave off even more fat.
There are more upgrades than meets the eye since the Renault 5 Turbo 3E benefits from a superior 800-volt architecture. It has enabled a maximum charging speed of 350 kW, whereas the normal EV supports DC charging at only 100 kW. In an ideal scenario, the lithium-ion battery can charge 15 to 80 percent in just 15 minutes.
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The Renault 5 has already spawned a hotter Alpine A290 flavor, but the 5 Turbo 3E is an entirely different animal. The rally-style vertical handbrake lever is a telltale sign that this is something far more special. Alcantara surfaces, a roll cage, and bucket seats with a six-point harness contribute to the interior’s so-called “supercharged ambience.”
Renault will open the order books in the coming weeks, with the first deliveries starting in 2027. Pricing isn’t mentioned, but the 5 Turbo 3E is likely to cost six figures. Only 1,980 cars will be made as a nod to the year when the original 5 Turbo homologation special went on sale. The bonkers EV is going to be sold in Europe, the Middle East, Japan, and Australia.
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