New Renault 5 E-Tech EV order bank passes 50,000 mark

Renault has revealed that more than 50,000 orders have already been placed for the all-new 2025 Renault 5 E-Tech Electric in Europe ahead of first deliveries later this year.

Recently unwrapped at the Geneva motor show, the reborn French icon has received widespread acclaim for keeping the 2021 concept’s retro looks, while its pricing, which begins at just €25,000 ($A41,500), is said to have spurred a rush of orders.

“We have a waiting list of 50,000 people,” Renault brand chief executive Fabrice Cambolive told Automotive News.

“We will open orders in May, and we’ll start to deliver cars in September or October.

“The problem is not to see if we have the customers – the challenge is to have a smooth ramp-up and to be able to deliver to the first customers by October.”

Cambolive said many of those rushing to place a deposit were new to the Renault brand, although he also expects many will be owners of the Renault Zoe – the EV the reborn R5 indirectly replaces.

Based on the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s latest ‘AmpR Small’ platform (formerly CMF-BEV), the R5’s new architecture is said to share as much as 70 per cent of parts from the CMF-B combustion platform that’s used for the current Renault Clio.

That, says the French car-maker, makes the new R5 up to 30 per cent cheaper to build compared to the Zoe, enabling Renault to offer it to buyers at such an attractive price point.

Importantly, 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 driving range.

From launch, there’s the choice of either a 40kWh or larger 52kWh battery and one single electric motor that produces either 70kW, 90kW or 110kW and drives the front wheels only.

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.

There’s no word yet on exact timing for the French-built Renault 5 E-Tech Electric’s arrival Down Under.

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