Renault 5 Turbo 3E: Electric Legend Debuts on Corsican Roads
Renault has chosen the most fitting of stages for the first public outing of its all-electric rally reincarnation, the 5 Turbo 3E. Unveiled on Corsica’s historic Tour de Corse—exactly forty years after Jean Ragnotti’s 1985 victory in the same event—the 555-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive carbon-fibre missile drifted and danced through Calvi’s harbourfront and mountain stages, reviving the spirit of the eighties with volts instead of valves.
The debut carried deep symbolism. Two advanced prototypes of the 5 Turbo 3E performed demonstration runs at Calvi’s port and on the legendary Notre Dame de la Serra and Montegrosso stages, celebrating both Renault’s rally heritage and its electric future.
Developed by Alpine engineers, the 5 Turbo 3E isn’t a retro showpiece but a modern, purpose-built performance machine. Its bespoke aluminium-and-carbon chassis houses twin electric motors integrated into the rear wheels, delivering a combined 555 hp and an enormous 4,800 Nm of torque. Each wheel is driven independently, giving the car razor-sharp control and drift capability worthy of its ancestor.
Weighing under 1,450 kg, with a 43/57 weight balance and a power-to-mass ratio of 2.5, the 3E handles like a track car. The sprint to 100 km/h takes less than 3.5 seconds, placing it firmly in supercar territory.
Its 70 kWh battery runs on an 800-volt architecture allowing rapid 330 kW charging—enough to go from 15 to 80 percent in just 15 minutes. WLTP range exceeds 400 km, making the 5 Turbo 3E more than a show-floor stunt; it’s a genuinely usable electric sports car.
Only 1,980 units will be built—a nod to the original 1980 Renault 5 Turbo—with prices starting at €170,000 and reservations requiring a €50,000 deposit.
From early next year, a bespoke personalization program will let buyers co-create their car with Renault’s designers. Choices include historic liveries such as Rouge Grenade or the 1982 Tour de Corse yellow-white-black scheme, along with unique interior materials and finishes.
The 5 Turbo 3E isn’t just a tribute; it’s a live wire between past and future—proof that even in silence, some legends still know how to shout.
