Renault has confirmed the price of its incredible pure-electric homage to the classic 5 Turbo of the 1980s, the 5 Turbo 3E "mini-supercar".
It's announced a starting sticker of NZ$305,000, even though the 3E doesn't really exist yet. The company plans to build 1980 examples (see what they've done there?); orders have already opened, with customers visiting a showroom in person and signing a reservation form. The cars are all numbered and if a buyer wants to choose a particular one, they can go for the "paying option".
Customer payments are helping to fund the build of the car; Renault refers to buyers as "key partners". Dealers will be in touch again in 2026 to finalise options and personalisation (so yes, every car will likely cost a lot more than $305k), which will be locked in for early-2027. Renault says the finished cars will be delivered that year.
Keen, Kiwis? Well, Renault no longer has a passenger-car presence in New Zealand, so you're out of luck. The car has been confirmed only for Europe, the UK, the Middle East, Japan and Australia. Strong right-hand drive representation there, though.
What's a mini-supercar again?
The Turbo 5 3E draws on the critical success of the Renault 5 E-Tech, a pure-electric reboot of the classic hatchback from the 1980s. But like the original Turbo, it actually shares very little with the "donor" car.
It's built on a custom-designed aluminium platform: 4080m long, 2030m wide (that's extremely wide for a supermini-sized car) and 1380m tall. Renault says it combines "supercar-width with city-car length... it can claim to create a new class of vehicles: 'mini-supercars'”.
Renault 5 Turbo 3E has two in-wheel motors at the rear. Developing over 400kW and with an all-carbon superstructure, it weighs under 1450kg and can sprint from 0-100km/h in under 3.5 seconds.
With a 70kWh battery and onboard DC charger able to support up to 350kW with its 800-volt architecture, it charges from 15-80% in 15 minutes. Standard WLTP range should be over 400km.
Renault 5 Turbo 3E personalisation
Alongside the historic colours of Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2, such as the Rouge Grenade of production models, or the black, yellow and white racing livery of the Renault 5 Turbo that won the 1982 Tour de Corse rally, customers will be able to choose from a range of new “gentleman driver” options.
They will have the opportunity to meet Renault designers in order to create their own exterior and interior livery, selecting the colours and materials for a wide range of features: seats, door panels and dashboard.
With the completion of the "reservation phase", a Turbo 3E prototype/show car will go on display at stores across Europe and will appear at the Goodwood Festival of Speed from 10-13 July this year.
