GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: 2025 Renault 5 E-Tech Electric revealed

The production version of the 2025 Renault 5 E-Tech Electric has been launched at the Geneva motor show overnight, with the French icon reborn as a battery-powered hatchback priced from less than €25,000 ($A41,500) in Europe.

Already locked in for a launch in Australia, the retro Renault 5 E-Tech Electric will offer a broad range that rivals low-cost Chinese EVs like the BYD Dolphin and more expensive premium cars such as the MINI Cooper Electric.

Heavily inspired by the original 1972 Renault 5, the all-new electric reboot will be joined by a small SUV based on the Renault4Ever concept, plus an even cheaper EV recently previewed by the Twingo concept.

All three will ride on the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s ‘AmpR Small’ platform (formerly CMF-BEV), which shares as much as 70 per cent of parts from the CMF-B combustion platform that’s used for the current Renault Clio.

That, according to Renault, makes the new R5 up to 30 per cent cheaper to build compared to the Renault Zoe.

Despite being developed to cut costs, the new architecture doesn’t skimp on sophistication and features a multi-link rear suspension for a better ride and agility.

Only slightly smaller than the current Clio, the Renault 5 measures in at 3900mm long and 1800mm wide, and features some novel kilo-cutting measures designed to boost its range.

These include a new inverter that, alone, saves 15kg, while the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries use a unique layout that sees the cells batched into larger square-shaped modules.

The result is the 40kWh battery weighs only 240kg while the bigger 52kWh battery tips the scales at 300kg.

In total, the R5 with the smaller battery weighs just 1372kg – 100kg less than the original Zoe supermini with a tiny 22kWh battery.

The flagship Renault 5 with the 52kWh battery, meanwhile, has a 1449kg kerb weight.

From launch, the Renault 5 will be offered with the choice of a 70kW, 80kW or 110kW electric motor.

The mid-range 90kW motor is said to be capable of a 0-100km/h sprint of less than 8.0 seconds.

Renault says the small electric hatch can even tow up to 500kg.

If those figures don’t sound exciting enough, an R5-based Alpine A290 is also on the way that’s expected to turn the wick up to 160kW.

While the 40kWh battery should cover up to 300km, the 52kWh unit will drive up to 400km on a single charge.

Cars with the smaller battery get 80kW DC charging while the 52kWh R5s can be topped up at up to 100kW.

All models can supply up to 11kW to external devices via its charging port, with the small Renault EV designed to become part of the electrical grid.

Inside, the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric gets twin screens for the instrument panel and 10.1-inch Google-powered infotainment system, an oval-shaped multifunction steering wheel and a fabric-wrapped dash that hints at the first-gen Renault 5.

Mustard-coloured fabric covering the seats and door cards also looks inspired by the original French supermini first introduced back in 1972.

Missing is any trace of leather, while designers say that up to 18 per cent of the car’s material content is recycled, which includes up to 41kg of plastics.

Renault’s latest EV is also said to be 85 per cent recyclable.

Despite its short length, the five-seat R5 gets a relatively long wheelbase (2540mm) that bodes well for cabin space while the 326-litre boot is among the best in class.

Detailed changes over the concept include small squares in the moon crescent-shaped headlamps that are said to replicate a human pupil when the main beam is not in use – and are said to wink when you approach the car with the key fob.

A charging indicator remains integrated in the offset bonnet bulge that references the original’s bonnet vent. When it reaches full charge, the LED takes the shape of a number ‘5’.

At the rear the concept’s red LED light bar has been replaced by a grey plastic strip.

Helping minimise range-sapping drag, the R5 gets plenty of clever aero aids including a rear tailgate spoiler that alone adds up to 8km of range on a cruise.

The combined effect of the slatted tail-lights and aerodynamically optimised alloy wheels is said to add a further 15km of range.

Other less exciting changes over the concept include proper door handles, thicker pillars and conventional door mirrors.

Some versions even feature cheeky red accents that reference the old high-performance Renault 5 Turbo.

There’s no word yet on exact timing for the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric’s arrival Down Under, but production has been confirmed to begin at Renault’s factory in northern France from mid-2025.

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