It’s time for round two of the teaser campaign for Renault's stupendous R5 Turbo 3E. Scheduled for production in 2027, the power output of the ‘mini supercar’ has risen from 500 to 536bhp, delivered via two rear-wheel-mounted electric motors. Renault has also confirmed 1,980 examples will be built.
Despite carrying the Renault name, the car is being developed by Alpine. And while it sports the silhouette of the R5 hatchback, the Turbo 3E will be built upon a bespoke platform with 800V architecture. The chassis is crafted from aluminium, while the body panels are carbon fibre, keeping weight down to a respectable – by EV standards – 1,450kg. As of now, the only exterior parts carried over from the regular R5 are the rear lights and door mirrors.
The new platform brings with it some rather unique dimensions. The cartoonish wheel arches cover a width that’s swelled to 2.03m – that’s the same as a Lamborghini Aventador. Compared to the R5, the wheelbase has been extended by 30cm, and overall length is up to 4.08m. The windscreen has also been repositioned further back and lowered.
In terms of performance, the Turbo 3E boasts a top speed of 168mph and will cover 0–62mph in under 3.5 seconds. For overtaking, a button on the steering wheel delivers peak power for a sustained period. Another button allows the regenerative braking to be set to four levels of intensity. Four driving modes alter the car’s dynamic behaviour: Snow, Regular, Sport and Race, the latter including a drift-assist function. A WRC-style vertical handbrake is also included for those looking to get black-flagged at a track day.
The decision to place the electric motors within the wheels brings both engineering advantages and challenges. On the plus side, it improves packaging, reduces transmission losses and cuts reaction times for the torque vectoring system. On the downside, the weight of the motors must now be managed by the suspension. Alpine is aiming to counter this with a specific double wishbone set-up tailored to the task.
Those extended arches aren’t just for show. Given the track-focused remit of the Turbo 3E, the goal has been to make the car grippy rather than slippy. The outlets behind the front wheels dissipate heat from the brakes, while the upper air intakes at the rear marshal airflow through the car and out via the rear strakes under the lights. Meanwhile, the lower intake pod conceals the charging point for the floor-mounted 70kWh lithium-ion battery.
The front splitter, large air outlet on the bonnet and the ludicrous, full-length diffuser at the rear are all functional, increasing downforce. There is also a surround running around the windscreen pillars and the cabin roofline that blends into the rear spoiler – a homage to the original Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2.
With track days in mind, fast charging times will be just as important as fast lap times. If the paddock has access to a 350kW DC charger, the Turbo 3E will be able to boost the battery from 15–80% of its claimed 249-mile range in just 15 minutes. The AC charge time from 0–100% is 11 hours.
Inside, the Turbo 3E will be instantly familiar to R5 owners – unless, of course, they glance over their shoulder and clock the integral roll cage. Hardcore bucket seats and six-point harnesses will clamp the driver and passenger in place. In a neat touch, the digital dashboard will feature graphics and dials inspired by the original 1980s Turbo. Alpine A110 owners might also feel at home with the Alcantara-clad steering wheel lifted from the sports car.
Almost as distinctive as the R5 Turbo 3E’s styling will be its choice of paint finishes and liveries. Rouge Grenade – made famous by the original Turbo – will be an option, as will the yellow, white and black racing livery of the Tour de Corse 1982 rally model, as demonstrated by the concept. Fully customisable and contemporary livery options will also be available. Each of the 1,980 cars will be individually numbered, with buyers getting the chance to reserve a specific number.
Renault has stated the R5 Turbo 3E will be sold in ‘several key markets around the world, including Europe, the Middle East, Japan and Australia’. There is no word on allocation numbers or whether the car will be sold in right-hand drive. One thing looks certain – the 1,980 forking out the rumoured six-figure asking price will end up with a grin as wide as those arches in 2027.
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