The Renault 5 Turbo 3E electric hot hatch has been confirmed for Australia this year after successful negotiations with France concluded in December 2024.
The high-performance electric remake of the 1980s Renault 5 Turbo was confirmed for local distribution on December 24, 2024.
Renault Australia immediately opened an expressions of interest page on its website.
The announcement comes after the production version of the Renault 5 Turbo 3E was unveiled globally and two years after the vehicle was unveiled as a concept car at the 2022 Paris Motor Show.
With 500hp available via two electric motors powering the rear wheels, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E has a supercar-like performance. Its claimed 0 to 100 km time is 3.5 seconds, making it the fastest-accelerating Renault yet produced.
The new Renault 5 Turbo 3 E is an electric version of the petrol-powered Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2 hot hatches produced in the 1980s.
The high-performance turbocharged variants were based on the original Renault 5 hatchback series, which was sold in Europe from 1972 to 1985.
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E’s colour scheme was inspired by the iconic livery of one of the rally competition versions of the Renault Turbo 5 in the early 1980s.
Details such as timing, pricing – and how many examples of the Renault 5 Turbo 3E will be produced – are yet to be announced.
However, Renault has confirmed that the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is based on a carbon fibre ‘superstructure’ that delivers high strength in a lightweight package.
One of the rear air intakes – a design inspiration from the 1980s Renault 5 Turbo – houses an electric charging port.
As with the regular versions of the Renault 5 E-Tech electric hatchback, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E has unique light signatures – including scrolling ‘welcome’ and ‘goodbye’ sequences – and digital widescreen instrument and infotainment displays in a cockpit-style cabin.
Other information, such as driving range, recharging times, and battery capacity, are yet to be announced.
Prices and specifications for the Renault 5 Turbo 3E will be revealed closer to Australian showroom arrivals.
“We have been working around the clock with head office in France to secure the Renault 5 Turbo 3E for Australia, and we finally locked it in just hours away from the start of the holiday shutdown period,” Renault Australia general manager Glen Sealey says.
“Our fans have been waiting for this news, and we wanted to share it with them as soon as possible. We got the green light for this car overnight and are not waiting a moment to get things moving.
“Customers in Australia will be able to fill in their details on the expressions of interest page, which will make them the first to know when there are important updates – and it will make them the first to know when it comes time to place an order.
“Renault’s head office in France has been very supportive of Australia. We’ve secured the Renault 5 Turbo 3E for our customers so soon after it was confirmed for European production, showing how committed Renault is to the Australian market – with this and other exciting models around the corner,” he says.
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