The R5 Turbo is back! In fact, this is what Renault and its boss Luca de Meo confirm at the end of a documentary series broadcast on Prime Video since December 13.
A series dedicated to the “return” of Renault
In four episodes of approximately 40 minutes each, Anatomy of a comeback returns to the Renaulution strategic plan, launched after the deep crisis registered in 2020, opening the doors of the French group.
“Design of new models, behind the scenes of the F1 team, manufacturing secrets… This adventure is lived through characters faced with difficulties, failures and successes,” can be read in the description of the Amazon streaming service.
the newspaper columnist The echoesCédric Fréour, co-producer of the series, followed the preparation of the group’s commercial offensive for two years, until the rebirth of the R5 in an electric version, highly anticipated to accelerate the electrification of the brand.
“Producers have decided to inform the public about an economic success, voluntarily leaving annoying issues such as still fragile margins, the concerns of employees and equipment manufacturers, or partnerships with the Chinese industry, at the garage door,” he summarizes. the AFP.
Anatomy of a comeback seeks to tell the story of this complex economic change through characters, as the Netflix series did Drive to survive (“Pilots of their destiny”) for the world of Formula 1 with resounding success.
“We can do research and archives, but this is another way of writing” that “allows us to understand the complexity of this world,” Nicolas Valode, producer of the series, explained to AFP. “It is very rare to see, from within, a company forced to transform.”
“There is a main character, who is Luca de Meo, and secondary characters, who tell (the story) from within (…) We consider these series a bit like fiction,” underlines Nicolas Valode.
A new electric “Turbo”
The surprise comes, therefore, at the end of the fourth episode and, therefore, of the series, in an excerpt shared by Renault and broadcast here by the YouTube channel L’Argus. Accompanied by the designer Gilles Vidal and the general director of the Renault brand, Fabrice Cambolive, Luca de Meo takes the film crew to a studio where a fairly advanced prototype of what is presented as an R5 Turbo 3E is hidden.
On the program, a supercharged R5, like the Turbo 3E concept presented in 2022.
Two electric motors, one in each rear wheel, allow more than 500 horsepower and go from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 3 seconds, says Luca de Meo.
“It is a real project, we are working to get it out, I won’t tell you when, but it will come out,” continues the Renault boss.
Limited series production
A series production horizon for this extreme model confirmed by a Renault press release published on the morning of December 13, following the spread of the documentary online. And with some official photos of the vehicle in development.
“Forty-four years after the first Renault 5 Turbo, Renault resurrects this new, ultimate and sporty icon, to the delight of all fans,” the statement says.
“This announcement in a documentary series is unprecedented in its form and is perfectly adapted to a unique model of its kind,” also underlines this text that promises new information in 2025. Perhaps its technical sheet, its launch schedule, the number of copies planned for this limited series or even the planned price?
Carbon monocoque, charging port hidden behind the air intakes in the wings… In any case, this model should bring pleasant surprises. A dedicated site allows you to sign up to receive alerts about your future availability.
An exception to the rule of priority in Alpine over sport?
On social media, this pleasant end-of-year surprise has visibly delighted those nostalgic for the R5 Turbo. Some, however, regret this 100% electric choice, as is the case with the new R5, worrying in particular about the autonomy and fast charging capacity of its extreme version.
More generally, this R3 Turbo 3E also seems to question the strategy within the Renault group, where the Alpine brand must embody motorsport in all its dimensions, from Formula 1 to production sports models sold to the general public.
It may therefore surprise us that the Renault brand returns to this sector of models that previously carried the Renault Sport or RS logo. Especially since the R5 already has a sports version… in this case a certain Alpine 290. What future then for this model or future more efficient versions if there is such an extreme R5 Turbo 3E?
As for the details, mainly aesthetic, that affirm the sporty side of a model, the “Alpine Spirit” finish has also logically replaced the old “RS Line” finish. Except in the R5, which has this Alpine A290 in a sports version.
In a diamond model that wants to show a certain dynamism like the latest Rafale in a 300-horsepower plug-in hybrid version, we even find a second “Atelier Alpine” finish level, after the “Esprit Alpine”.
This Renault 5 Turbo 3E, therefore, sows some confusion in this strategy that will supposedly support Alpine’s development. And an additional bad signal sent to the Dieppe brand following the planned cessation of F1-related activities at Viry-Châtillon.
Source: BFM TV
