Renault has been on a roll with retro-inspired models. From production cars like the 5, 4, and Twingo to pure show cars like the R17 electric restomod and the Renault 5 Diamant art car. And now the electric 8 Gordini. Will this one make it into production?
Renault unveiled its 8 Gordini Concept ahead of the 2026 Paris Motor Show, where it will be officially shown to the public. Unlike the R17 and 5 Diamant, this concept doesn’t stay true to the car it references. While the 1964 Renault 8 Gordini was a sporty 4-door, the 21st-century concept is a lightweight coupé.
Coupé with historic traits
The styling traits of the original car remain: the ‘Bleu de France’ color scheme with a white stripe, a closed front with round headlights, the typical V-shaped bonnet, the boxy shape below the belt line, and the square rear with small horizontal tail lights. Those tail lights are hidden behind bodywork panels.
But the new car has a carbon fiber body shell with wide wheel arches and is a strict two-seater. It also has an electric driveline. But Renault doesn’t give much information about its specifications. We only know it has a 270-horsepower motor driving the rear wheels, up from a maximum of 100 hp in the original. But it doesn’t say what kind of battery is in the car.
The interior has been kept clean, with Renault saying it drew inspiration from café racer motorbikes. The 8 Gordini concept has six round digital dials referring to the original dashboard, instead of a big screen. Brushed aluminum, leather, and Alcantara also reference the sixties car. Pull cords instead of door handles should make you think of Gordini’s past rally successes.
Will it go into production?
But why has Renault built this car? Should we expect it to go into production? While it is not impossible, it seems highly unlikely. An electric retro coupé would be a nice addition to the Renault line-up, but it might not be commercially viable. There isn’t a big market for coupés, certainly not two-seater ones.
A few years ago, competitor Peugeot (Stellantis) launched the idea of an electric retro-styled e-Legend coupé, but it didn’t go into production because there was no business case back then. And the current turmoil in the automotive sector leaves little room for costly experiments.
Moreover, Renault already has an electric coupé coming up through its Alpine brand: the electric A110. Maybe it wants to revive the Gordini name, famous in the 1960’s for the work of Amedée Gordini, for a new trim line, next to the ‘Esprit Alpine’?
This concept will be part of the collection at the new Renault museum being built in Flins; that’s for certain. The place will be officially inaugurated at the end of next year, and this concept will be shown alongside around 600 cars and concepts from Renault’s rich history.
