Renault 5 Turbo 3E

In 1980, the Renault 5 Turbo was France's first production car with a turbocharged engine: a mid-engined rally weapon disguised as a small hatchback. The 5 Turbo 3E brings that idea into the electric era. Renault calls it the first electric mini-supercar, and it is the most powerful Renault ever built.

The hardware

Two in-wheel motors sit in the rear wheels and drive them directly. Renault's first technical specification quotes 410 kW (555 hp) and 4,800 Nm of torque at the wheels, 0–100 km/h in under 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 270 km/h. A 70.3 kWh, 800-volt battery gives a range of more than 400 km (WLTP) and DC charging at up to 330 kW. Carbon parts in the structure help keep weight down. These are manufacturer figures.

Rear-drive by design

Because each rear wheel has its own motor, the torque sent to each one can be controlled separately for agility and traction. It is a modern version of what made the original so wild: a small car with too much power at the back.

Rare by number

Production is limited to 1,980 cars, a nod to the year the original appeared, with extensive personalisation. Renault's recommended price starts at around €160,000 before options.

Why it matters

The 5 Turbo 3E shows that electric performance can be playful, loud in its design and full of character. It takes one of the great homologation specials and asks what the same attitude looks like with electric power.