Imagine if the original Renault 5 Turbo from 1980 got zapped by lightning while doing 88 mph and landed in 2025. What you'd get is the Renault 5 Turbo 3E - a neon-soaked, all-electric, rear-wheel-drive riot that’s as subtle as a glitter cannon at a funeral. It’s loud (visually, at least), unapologetically retro, and built to go sideways. A lot.
Power and Performance: Torque to Tear the Tarmac
Beneath its carbon-fibre-clad body lurks a twin-motor setup - one on each rear wheel - delivering a total of 540 bhp and an absolutely absurd 4,800 Nm of torque. That’s not a typo. That’s torque on a biblical scale. The result? 0–62 mph in under 3.5 seconds, and a top speed of 167 mph - numbers that are more than respectable for something that looks like a Hot Wheels car designed by a synthwave DJ.
And while many electric cars whisper politely down the road, the Turbo 3E has been purpose-built for mischief. It’s got a low centre of gravity, a custom tubular chassis, and several drive modes - including a dedicated “Drift” mode. Yes, Renault really wants you to go sideways in it.
A Love Letter to the ‘80s, Penned in LEDs
Visually, it’s what would happen if the original 5 Turbo binge-watched Tron, went to a rave, and then hit the gym. It’s a whopping 25 cm wider than the Turbo 2, with a boxy stance, flared arches, and enough aero flicks and fins to start its own Air Show. The LED lights blink, strobe, and animate like they’re trying to communicate with alien life, and the faux bonnet scoop cheekily hides the charging port.
And then there’s the glass. The windows are made from pink-tinted Plexiglas - a design choice that screams “retro-futuristic” with the subtlety of a laser disco ball. There's even a “La vie en rose” sticker slapped on the rear window, just in case you weren’t already smiling.
Inside: Rally DNA Meets Arcade Madness
Step inside and you're greeted with a cockpit that’s more PlayStation than Peugeot. Bucket seats, six-point harnesses, a vertical hydraulic handbrake, and a dashboard that fuses retro rally vibes with modern tech. Front and centre are two main digital screens - a 10.1-inch instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen - delivering everything from drift metrics to Google Maps with a neon-soaked grin.
It’s not just a cockpit - it’s a command centre for controlled chaos. You can track drift angles, lap times, battery usage, and probably your heartbeat too.
Tech and Specs: Not Just a Pretty Face
The Turbo 3E isn’t just a showpiece; it’s packing brains to match the brawn. The car is fully electric, powered by a 70 kWh battery - good for short bursts of mayhem rather than long-haul comfort. It uses regenerative braking, has a bespoke suspension setup, and features carbon-kevlar composite panels to keep the weight down to a lean 1,450 kg.
This is a track toy, a drift car, a living concept. It’s also entirely rear-wheel drive. Which, in the era of all-wheel-everything EVs, feels delightfully rebellious.
Exclusivity: Limited, Ludicrous, and Loud
Only 1,980 units will be made - a nod to the year the original 5 Turbo roared into the world. And they won’t come cheap. Each one is tailor-made, with options for custom paint schemes, unique liveries, and heritage-inspired trims. If you want yours to look like a cross between a Group B rally car and a Y2K nightclub, Renault’s got you covered.
Final Gear: You Can't Buy This Thrill, But You Can Still Feel It
So, is this the future of hot hatches? Maybe not. But is it the most grin-inducing, eyebrow-scorching tribute to one of the coolest rally cars ever made? Absolutely. The Renault 5 Turbo 3E doesn’t just pay homage - it puts the original on a hoverboard and sends it into hyperspace.
Sadly, you can't take this fluorescent fever dream for a joyride. But if your foot’s itching for some sideways action, we’ve got the next best thing - Rally Driving Experiences that put you behind the wheel of machines built to thrill, slide, and fly through gravel with wild abandon. And if it's the electric rush you're after, we've got you covered there too, with Electric Driving Experiences that let you sample the future of performance with zero emissions and all the torque. After all, who says you can’t have your cake and drift it too?
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