A legendary vehicle from the 1980s is about to make its comeback. The R5 Turbo, a big-hearted brute used in competitions, particularly in rallying, is back in a 100% electric version. The French firm continues to deploy its neo-retro strategy to (re)conquer fans of yesteryear. But this R5 Turbo 3E won't be just another model. Limited to 1,980 units, the exceptionally high-performance sports car will position itself in a premium niche. Between motorsport enthusiasts and those nostalgic for the model, the electric R5 Turbo (for which pre-orders should open in a few weeks) will find buyers. We spoke with Didier, a sixty-year-old who is eagerly awaiting the launch of the car.
A New Page in Sport at Renault
The first-generation R5 Turbo is famous for being the first car to win the production World Rally Championship in 1981. This highly sought-after car remains an iconic symbol of French automotive engineering. It also represents the "golden age" of sports cars. Jean Ragnotti and Guy Fréquelin won several titles driving the R5 Turbo.
The original model was equipped with a small 1,397 cc "Cléon-Fonte" engine producing 160 hp. Its success was such that the R5 Turbo even made appearances in a James Bond film (Never Say Never Again, 1983) and in the video games Gran Turismo, Forza, and GTA V. Today, some Turbos command exorbitant prices on the used car market, with the best-maintained examples fetching up to €180,000.
A new chapter in the sporting world is about to open at Renault. The diamond-shaped brand recently unveiled an electric version of the R5 Turbo. Dubbed the "R5 Turbo 3E," the vehicle promises exceptional performance with two 200 kW motors (a total of 540 hp) and 4,800 Nm of torque, delivering 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. In short, it's the most powerful production Renault of all time.
Didier is already dreaming of the R5 Turbo 3E.
You won't see it on the roads until 2027, but pre-orders will open "in a few weeks," according to the brand. We wanted to meet the future owners of this extraordinary car, which is likely to come with a hefty price tag. Among those already interested in this R5 Turbo 3E is Didier Malga, a 69-year-old from Cantal, passionate (and a connoisseur) of motorsport and electromobility.
Still very active in the automotive world, he is a consultant in automotive energy transition, administrator of GPSM (a group of motorsport professionals), vice-president of the AVERE association in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, administrator at ORBIMOB (a think tank on new mobility) as well as president of D2M Mobilités and Red Cow Racing. Just that!
He discovered electrified motorsport in 2015, participating in the "E-Rallye Monte Carlo" in a Peugeot 208 GTI E85. He enjoyed the race so much that he returned in 2016 with a Tesla Model S P100D, and again in 2017, where he even claimed victory. For everyday commutes, Didier has also experienced a number of electrified models: the Renault Zoé and Tesla Model 3 Performance, as well as the Kia Niro.
"A real beast"
Today, he expresses a strong interest in the new electric R5 Turbo. Firstly, because "it's a French model, iconic and with an incredible track record." But also because of its aesthetics, which are ultimately quite different from the "classic" electric R5. Didier particularly appreciates the work of Gilles Vidal, both at Peugeot and Renault. He is the man behind the design of the famous Renault 5 E-Tech.
Impressed by the sports model presented a few days ago, the Cantal native believes that this R5 Turbo 3E has a "brutal image." It's aggressive and particularly wide and squat, at 2.03 meters. "Such a design for such a high-performance car is unusual." Incidentally, Didier makes no secret of the fact that it's mainly "the sporty side" that interests him, rather than features related to range and charging.
In this respect, the pocket-sized electric supercar is no slouch. It features a 70 kWh (NMC) battery and promises a 400 km range, according to the brand. That's not bad for a sports car. Thanks to an 800 V platform, it can handle up to 350 kW of direct current, enough to go from 15 to 80% charge in just 15 minutes. Performance worthy of the best electric vehicles on the market today.
Who wants a €150,000 Renault?
When I ask him how he plans to use his future R5 Turbo 3E, this motorsport enthusiast instinctively replies: "For rallying, of course!" As for the price, rumors suggest a starting price of around €150,000. That's definitely not cheap, "especially when you can get a 700 hp Porsche Taycan GTS for that price," adds Didier.
How does the competition stack up? Hyundai offers the Ioniq 5 N (650 hp and 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, like the R5 Turbo 3E) for €78,000. There's also the Tesla Model 3 Performance (up to 518 hp and 3.1 seconds for 0-100 km/h) which starts at €57,490. Or the MG4 XPower (435 hp) from €35,490. Renault will have to find the right price for its limited edition.
Finally, when I ask Didier if he thinks this R5 Turbo 3E could be a good financial investment, he is categorical: "I don't think it's a good investment. I have the impression that electric car technologies (charging speed and range in particular) are still going to evolve a lot. It seems to me that if the goal is to make money with a car, it's better to invest in combustion engines."
Fabrice Cambolive, the CEO of Renault, suggests the opposite. He recently stated that "many people who already know the price of the R5 Turbo 3E are ready to invest because they believe this type of car will never lose its value." It's obviously in his interest to say this, but the highly exclusive nature (only 1,980 units) of this future sports car could prove him right.
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