Renault is celebrating five decades of the iconic R5 by unveiling a bold tribute to its legendary rally specials, the Turbo and Turbo 2. The all-new R5 Turbo 3E is fully electric—but it’s still been built for pure driving fun and, in the words of Renault design boss Gilles Vidal, “wilful exuberance.”
An evolution of the 5 EV concept revealed last year, the Turbo 3E is a two-seater, rear-wheel-drive racer powered by two electric motors—one on each rear wheel—producing a combined 375 bhp. Power is supplied by a 42kWh battery pack mounted centrally under the floor.
Built on a bespoke tubular chassis, the Turbo 3E features an FIA-approved roll cage, lightweight Plexiglass windows, and an impressive 50 degrees of steering angle—perfect for drifting and sideways action.
Inside, it’s pure motorsport theatre: Sabelt racing seats, harnesses, a rally-style steering wheel, a drift stick, and a striking grey/black/yellow tartan trim. The standout feature? A retro-futuristic digital dash designed with a Tetris-style arrangement of square pods, inspired by the wild interior of Marcello Gandini’s original R5 Turbo.
Just like its rally-bred predecessors, the new 5 makes a bold statement with oversized cooling intakes. But this time, the aero goes even further, with a giant rear wing that wouldn’t look out of place on a BriSCA stock car. Deep side sills and a low-slung front splitter make it clear this EV means business.
Designed with a generation raised on video games and YouTube, the Turbo 3E features mounting points for no fewer than ten GoPro cameras—perfect for capturing viral drifts and donut sessions. Driving modes include “Free Play,” “Turbo,” “Track Invader,” and “Donut.”
The car will make its public debut at the Chantilly Arts & Elegance event in France on September 25.
Renault is leaning hard on its heritage to inject excitement into the EV space. The Turbo 3E follows the debut of the adorable 5 EV concept and will be joined by a reimagined Renault 4, due to be revealed at the Paris Motor Show in October.
By tapping into its motorsport legacy, Renault is aiming to win over nostalgic enthusiasts and younger fans alike—much like Hyundai did with its stunning N Vision 74 concept. Sadly, just like that car, the chances of the Turbo 3E entering full production remain slim.
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