The Renault 5 Turbo is back, and it’s gone completely mad. Renault’s iconic, rally-bred hatch of the ’80s has returned as a limited-run, fully electric “mini-supercar” called the Renault 5 Turbo 3E. If you were expecting a neat little retro throwback, think again. This is a cartoonishly aggressive, 540-horsepower EV designed to turn heads, shred tyres, and spark conversation.
Limited to just 1,980 units, in honour of the year the original Turbo was launched, this isn’t a mass-market city car. It’s an electric homage to excess, created for collectors, track-day fans, and anyone bored of the current EV status quo.
A Powertrain Built for Drama
The Turbo 3E sends its power through two in-wheel electric motors at the rear, delivering a combined 540 hp and 4,800 Nm of torque. That’s a serious number, especially when you consider there’s no traditional transmission to soak up any of it.
Renault claims a 0 to 100 km/h time of under 3.5 seconds. More interesting than the straight-line speed, though, is the character. The Turbo 3E features a dedicated drift-assist function, a rally-style hydraulic handbrake, and a chassis setup clearly aimed at playful, tail-happy handling. It’s being pitched as a car that isn’t just electric and fast, but also built to misbehave.
Lightweight Construction and Alpine Engineering
The car sits on a custom EV platform developed with Alpine. The structure is carbon fibre, the platform is aluminium, and the weight comes in at just 1,450 kg despite a sizeable 70 kWh battery pack under the floor. That low centre of gravity, combined with rear-wheel drive and a short wheelbase, points toward lively and agile handling.
Renault says the architecture allows for precise control of the power delivery to each wheel. This should translate into a car that feels razor-sharp on a tight road or track, particularly given Alpine’s involvement with the chassis and suspension development.
Range and Charging: Secondary, But Solid
The official range is estimated at over 400 km (WLTP), which is respectable given the power on offer. More importantly, the 800V system allows DC fast charging at up to 350 kW, which means 15 to 80 percent charge in just 15 minutes. For home charging, the 11 kW onboard charger can handle a full top-up in around eight hours.
This isn’t the sort of car you’d buy for long commutes, but the figures suggest it can be practical enough when needed.
Design That Doesn’t Hold Back
Renault hasn’t played it safe. The Turbo 3E looks like something straight out of a concept garage, with oversized arches, a huge aero package, aggressive splitters and scoops, and wide square LED headlights that reference the original Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2.
Despite its compact footprint at just over 4 metres long, the 3E is more than 2 metres wide. It looks planted, unapologetic, and slightly ridiculous in the best possible way. There’s a clear design connection to Renault’s modern R5 E-Tech, but this is far more extreme, both in stance and in attitude.
The motors are housed inside each of the 20-inch rear wheels, and cooling systems are integrated across the bodywork. One of the side scoops even hides the charging port. Every detail seems to serve a purpose.
Inside: Sim Racing Meets Rally Stage
The cabin is all about function and flair. There are carbon-backed bucket seats, six-point harnesses, and a rally-style vertical handbrake. Materials are lightweight and purposeful, with Alcantara across the dash and doors.
Two large digital screens sit in front of the driver, styled with a nod to the original 80s dash layout but powered by Renault’s OpenR system with Google built-in. That means up-to-date nav, charging route planning, and media controls all baked in. It won’t feel stripped out in the tech department, even if the rest of the car is focused entirely on performance.
Customisation and Collectability
Renault will build just 1,980 examples, each numbered and highly customisable. Buyers can choose from a range of colours and trim combinations, including options that reflect the brand’s motorsport history like the yellow, white, and black Tour de Corse livery.
Even the interior finish can be tailored, from seat trims to dash materials. It’s clear Renault expects this car to appeal to serious enthusiasts and is giving them every opportunity to make it their own.
Closing Thoughts
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is not here to make sense. It isn’t efficient, it isn’t subtle, and it definitely isn’t cheap. But that’s exactly why it matters.
At a time when most electric cars are chasing refinement and range, Renault has gone the other way and built something unashamedly bold. By pulling from its rallying roots, leaning into modern EV tech, and embracing a bit of chaos, the Turbo 3E manages to stand out in a sea of increasingly similar performance EVs.
It might not be for everyone. But for those who still want their electric car to feel a little unhinged, this could be one of the most exciting releases in years.
