It’s the rebirth of a legendary car. The Renault 5, sold more than 5 million copies worldwide, 9 million adding the Super 5, remained at the top of the best-selling cars for 10 years in the 70s and 80s. It is now in an electric version that it resurfaces at the Geneva Motor Show, before orders open next spring. Announced three years ago by the group’s general director, Luca de Meo, its price should be around 25,000 euros excluding ecological bonus for the entry level, and gradually rise to more than 30,000 euros, ” to adapt to all needs », Confided Fabrice Cambolive, the director of the brand, during a presentation to the press. It is also the most expensive R5s, equipped with the largest batteries, which will be marketed first. The 25,000 euro car, promised by Luca de Meo, should only arrive on the market at the end of 2024 or in 2025.
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The rebirth of this symbol was therefore obvious for Fabrice Cambolive and the French group. “ We needed a North Star. The Renault 5 is a symbol that has crossed all social classes of society.” This car, intended to replace the current Zoe, marks Renault’s acceleration in the electric era under the leadership of Luca de Meo. Positioned in the city car segment, the largest in France in terms of sales, but also the most competitive, this R5 intends to stand out through its Made in France. This Renault 5 is manufactured in the historic Douai factory and will soon be equipped with batteries from the Envision factory, located around thirty kilometers away. In a nod to its home territory, certain versions of the car will be equipped with a wicker basket to hold your baguette.
The “retrofuturism” method
In Geneva, we find the emblematic yellow of the model presented in Renault’s first designs. But it is in pop green that it will be offered at no extra cost when ordering. White, black and midnight blue will complete the range.
« The idea was to compile the characteristics. The current electric R5 has the sparkling and fun headlights of the R5, the enlarged ears of the turbo and the elongated taillights of the Super 5 », Describes Gilles Vidal, head of design for the brand.
In its press release, Renault assumes: “the method is to reinterpret these numerous details anchored in the collective imagination in the light of electricity and the 21st century”. Thus, the emblematic ventilation grille on the hood becomes a screen displaying the status of the electric battery, but the shape of the vehicle has been reworked to optimize its aerodynamics.
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This “retrofuturism” is a well-established marketing technique. Surfing on memories, it helps reduce promotion costs. Before the R5, Fiat and Mini also revived their historic models. Result: the Fiat 500 and the Mini 3 doors still rank in the 30 best-selling models in France this year. Moreover, the small Italian city car had been relaunched under the strategy of a certain Luca de Meo, then marketing director of the manufacturer. If the comparison with its now competitor – Fiat belonging to Stellantis – seems obvious, Renault defends itself ” not wanting a vintage result » for the R5. The diamond brand still hopes to have the same success as the Fiat 500 before the release of two other historic cars relaunched in an electric version: the Renault 4 for 2025 and the Twingo for 2026.
Cost optimization
In addition, the future R5 will be offered with two types of battery, offering a range of between 300 kilometers and 400 kilometers. Renault also sought to optimize space and limit the weight of this vehicle in order to reduce its consumption. The car therefore gains 13 centimeters in length compared to the Clio, but has a trunk of 326 liters, “ the largest electric city car », assures the brand. For comparison, the future electric C3 scheduled for spring will have a trunk of 310 liters and the Mini 3-door will have 211 liters.
To put this R5 on the road in just three years, Renault relied on a brand new platform called AmpR Small which “ allowed to realize costs of scale », Says the brand in its press release. Thus, the front axle of the R5 is shared with the Clio and the Captur.
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The other elements were designed specifically for electric cars. The brand’s next models, such as the Twingo, will benefit from this, once once more making it possible to lower production costs and release a car around 20,000 euros. With the R5, the diamond brand is definitively starting the price war, anticipating the arrival of small Chinese electric cars in the coming years. Renault will also have to deal with the release of the electric C3 from Stellantis at the same time and priced at 23,300 euros.
50% savings thanks to two-way charging
To do this, a brand new system will be offered in a Renault car: vehicle to grid (V2G), or the return of electricity from the battery to the network. This option will not be available on the base rate, but will be offered in higher ranges as well as the bidirectional terminal and the specific energy contract with the supplier The Mobility house. The brand promises a saving of 50% of its electricity bill per month thanks to this system, “ if the client logs in every day “. Bidirectional charging is being tested on the R5 before being extended to future Renault electric vehicles. Other cars on the market are already equipped with it, such as the Nissan Leaf, Peugeot iON and Citroën C0.
Available in dealerships this summer, the R5 is the group’s hope of regaining its leading position in the “mass market” segment, i.e. models sold in large numbers with lower margins. The brand is also counting on a relaunch of social leasing, stopped by the government two weeks ago, to boost its sales, particularly among young people. For now, although a new wave of this system offering car rental at 100 euros per month has been announced, no date has been put forward.
