French automaker Renault unveiled its highly anticipated new electric R5 on Monday at the Geneva Motor Show, aiming to revitalize its electric vehicle sales with a model inspired by its 1972 bestseller.
The new R5, part of Renault’s turnaround plan announced in 2021, features design elements from the original R5 and the iconic Super 5, including vertical tail-lights and bright colors. Together, the two models sold over nine million cars between 1972 and 1996.
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Renault’s approach to the R5 revival avoids what the brand’s design director, Gilles Vidal, refers to as “retrofuturism.” According to Vidal, revamping an old model must resonate correctly with the brand’s history.
Central to Renault’s strategy of producing affordable EVs, the new R5 will initially launch with a 52 kilowatt-hour (KWh) battery providing a range of 400 kilometers (249 miles) in the second half of the year. Following this, a less powerful version with a 40 KWh battery offering 300 kilometers of range will be introduced for 25,000 euros ($27,045).
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The R5 will utilize an Envision battery pack capable of bidirectional charging, allowing owners to sell their battery’s energy back to the grid. Initially, the battery pack will be imported until Envision’s gigafactory in northern France begins production in 2025.
