Renault teases the return of the legendary 5

Electric Vehicles  New Launches 

Once upon a time, if you were in the market for a new hatchback, the obvious choice would have been the Renault 5.

When the original model launched in 1972 it was arguably the world’s first modern supermini and quickly became the best-selling car in France, holding onto that title for an impressive 14 years. Renault finally pulled the plug on the Renault 5 in 1996 in favour of the Clio range that had launched a few years earlier. It may have taken a while but Renault has now decided the time is right for a revival in the shape of the brand-new, all-electric Renault E5.

But while that may be exciting news for many of you we can’t actually tell you anything about it yet.

That’s not down to us being deliberately evasive, though. It’s because Renault has decided to keep us all in suspense for a bit longer before the big reveal. The brand-new Renault 5 E-Tech will be officially unveiled on the 26th of February 2024 at the Geneva International Motor Show. Until then, all we’ve got to go on are a few teaser pics and a little hint of what’s to come.

As far as the details are concerned, Renault has revealed a few things.

We know the new Renault 5 E-Tech will be just under 4m long making it an ideal city car for urban driving. It will also launch with a 52kWh battery pack offering a range of around 250 miles should you wish to escape the city for a while. You’ll even get multi-link rear suspension so the handling should be pretty good too.

In terms of technology, the new version will include a bi-directional charger allowing for vehicle-to-grid technology so you can potentially save money on charging costs by selling some of the energy back to the grid. It will also boast some advanced technology on the inside too. Renault's official avatar, Reno, is described as a “next-generation humanised co-driver” that Renault claims will deliver a digital experience that fully immerses the user in the driving and onboard experience.

The recently launched teaser campaign also reveals a few of the exterior design features.

Renault has confirmed that production models will boast a number of new design highlights. These include a 5 logo in a choice of three colours - yellow, blue, and green; new headlights with a mark in the centre of the lens to resemble the pupil of a human eye giving the new car a friendly human-like expression; widened wheel arches that broaden the stance of the car as well as offering a design nod to the iconic Renault 5 Turbo; and vertical rear light clusters that act as clever extensions to the side panel to reduce air turbulence and improve aerodynamic performance.

Renault has also replaced the bonnet air intake that appeared on the original models with a high-tech touch that’s fun and practical at the same time. Obviously, an electric car doesn’t require vents for cooling air flow so Renault has swapped them for a charge indicator light that forms a number 5 when the car is fully charged. That means you’ll be able to tell at a glance when the battery requires a top-up without even having to get in to check the dashboard display.

When it launches next year, the Renault 5 E-Tech electric will put a modern, electric spin on one of the most iconic vehicles in the history of the automotive industry. The original Renault 5 shook up the automotive industry with its revolutionary approach to car design so it seems fitting that the rebirth of the legendary Renault will now play a part in the EV revolution.

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