Renault has unleashed the near-production version of its 5 Turbo 3E at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The electric “mini-supercar” completed repeated runs up the famous hill climb between 9 and 12 July, marking its first public dynamic appearance in the United Kingdom.
The 5 Turbo 3E is Renault’s most powerful road-going model to date. Two electric motors integrated into the rear wheels deliver a combined 555 hp, while Renault quotes maximum torque of 4,800 Nm at the wheels.
The layout also allows the two motors to be controlled independently, helping the rear-wheel-drive car rotate and drift.
Carbon superstructure
A carbon superstructure keeps the weight to around 1,450 kg, giving the two-seater a power-to-weight ratio of 2.6 kg per horsepower.
Renault claims acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds. Its exaggerated wheel arches, short body, and rear-driven layout deliberately recall the mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2 rally specials of the 1980s.
Despite its extreme performance, the Turbo 3E is designed to offer the charging capabilities of a modern long-distance EV.
400 km range
Its bespoke 800-volt platform carries a 70 kWh battery and supports DC charging at up to 330 kW. Renault says a 15-80% recharge should take around 15 minutes, while the targeted WLTP range exceeds 400 kilometers. The figures remain subject to final homologation.
The technical centerpiece is the use of in-wheel motors rather than a conventional motor connected to the wheels through driveshafts.
Besides freeing up space, the system gives Renault considerable freedom in distributing torque between the rear wheels. The company is presenting the technology as part of the car’s appeal rather than as a preview of an imminent mass-market drivetrain.
Only 1,980 individually numbered cars will be produced, each named for the year the original Renault 5 Turbo was launched. Every example will be built to order, with customers able to choose special liveries, interior materials, and finishes.
€160,000 before options
Renault now quotes a provisional Belgian price of €160,000 before options and personalization. Securing priority requires a €50,000 deposit through a Renault dealer.
Customers are expected to configure and formally order their cars during the first half of 2027, with initial deliveries following later that year.
The Turbo 3E headed a broader electric Renault line-up at Goodwood, where it appeared alongside the new Twingo E-Tech electric and the open-roof Renault 4 E-Tech electric “plein sud”.
However, neither could rival the attention generated by Renault’s extravagant electric tribute to its rallying past.
