2024 Renault 5 teased for the first time in production form

The production version of the all-new 2024 Renault 5 has been previewed for the first time with an assortment of images released ahead of the all-electric hatchback’s official unveiling at the Geneva motor show next March.

The first pics, which include the headlight, part of the bonnet, rear wheel-arch and tailgate all reveal subtle changes to the original retro Renault 5 prototype concept that was unwrapped back in 2021.

Changes include revised crescent-shaped LED headlights that look a lot more conventional compared to the concept’s projector-style lamps.

There’s also a larger charge indicator feature on the bonnet with a ‘5’ logo that fills to indicate to the owner (and passers-by) how just full the battery is or how much longer it needs to charge.

Towards the rear there’s a muscular wheel-arch that appears to match the concept’s, suggesting the futuristic R5 will share the prototype’s proportions.

The rear boot lid, meanwhile, looks quite different to the show car. There’s a new three-dimensional stacked LED lamp in place of the row of OLED elements, while the full-width light bar has slimmed-down and lost its cool illuminated diamond-framed 5 badge.

Renault is expected to release full details of the Renault 5 in the build-up to its Geneva reveal, but has said that the flagship versions will come with a 52kWh battery that will provide for a range of up to 400km.

We already know that the R5 will be the first car based on the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s all-new CMF-B EV architecture created specifically for small EVs.

The new platform shares 70 per cent of parts from the CMF-B combustion platform underpinning the current Renault Clio and Captur, which slashes costs and ensures the R5 is up to 30 per cent cheaper to build compared to the Renault ZOE – a hint the baby Renault EV could come with cut-throat pricing.

What it doesn’t skimp on is hardware. According to Renault, the R5 will employ a multi-link rear suspension that, combined with a lower centre of gravity, is claimed to set a new benchmark for handling in its class.

We also know the Renault 5 will incorporate extensive weight-saving throughout to enhance its dynamics while boosting its range, including a novel battery arrangement that sees the power pack split into four modules. This is claimed to boost energy density and slash weight by around 15kg compared to the 52kWh battery that powers the ZOE.

A smaller, lighter 40kWh battery pack will also be offered.

Saving a further 20kg is the decision to integrate the charger, converter and electronics into one casing.

When launched, it’s thought the most basic Renault 5 will come with a single 100kW electric motor that will drive the front wheels.

Later on, a hot hatch version – as previewed by the Alpine A290 Beta concept – is set to feature the bigger battery and a more powerful 160kW electric motor.

Expect the Alpine-branded A290 baby hot hatch, which will go head-to-head with the new Abarth 500e, to also bag sports suspension and a more aggressive body kit.

Faster variants will follow including one, we hope, that will be inspired by the wild 280kW Renault 5 Turbo 3E.

Once introduced, the R5 will introduce some fresh tech for the brand and will be the first Renault capable of bidirectional vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging, allowing owners to feed electricity back into the power grid.

First launched in Europe back in 1972, the little Renault 5 was never officially offered in Australia, but that didn’t stop Renault from selling almost 5.5 million of them worldwide. Indeed, the little Ford Fiesta rival remained in production until 1996.

When it’s launched at the Geneva motor show on February 26, the 2024 Renault 5 is expected to carry a price tag of around €25,000 ($A41,000).

In France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK, Renault is inviting fans of the Renault 5 to spend €150 ($A250) for an R5 R Pass that is said to provide priority when placing an order. It will also reward them with a toy R5 and should ensure they’ll be among the first owners to take delivery.

There’s no word yet on when exactly the R5 will arrive in Australia, but the small hatch and the incoming R4 SUV that follow have been confirmed for our market.

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