Renault has unveiled the production version of the 2022 R5 Turbo 3E Concept, serving as a modern-day successor to the classic R5 Turbo I and II from the ’80s and the Clio V6 from the ’00s. The hyper hatch rides on a bespoke platform and features a fully electric RWD powertrain with over 500 hp.

The third iteration of the R5 Turbo homologation special has retro-futuristic styling, looking like a heavily redesigned restomod on steroids. It retains the signature boxy fender flares of the original, although here they are combined with oversized wheels shod in ultra-wide tires.

More: Radical New Renaults Will Ditch Conventional SUV Body Styles

The exterior has evolved compared to the concept, adding a sleeker greenhouse and reworked aerodynamics. The pronounced bumpers and side skirts are finished in white, contrasting with the yellow bodywork and the black roof.

The LED headlights appear to be a modernized version of the classic R5, while the taillights are sourced from the new R5 E-Tech Electric. The charging port is hidden in one of the side intakes, which were designed to cool the electric powertrain.

Despite the resemblance, the R5 Turbo 3E is not mechanically related to the standard Renault 5, as it rides on a bespoke carbon monocoque chassis which is said to be “both lightweight and extremely stiff”.

The French pocket rocket is powered by two electric motors mounted in the rear wheels. With a combined output of over 500 hp (373 kW / 507 PS), the R5 Turbo 3E is the most powerful production model by Renault, promising a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in under 3.5 seconds.

Luca de Meo, Renault Group CEO, said that the R5 Turbo 3E is something for “only for the brave”, adding that “it’s going to be fun”. According to the company, “the Group is bringing the best of its skills and expertise to the development of this ultimate Renault brand icon”, likely hinting at Alpine’s involvement in the project.

Renault didn’t announce details about the production model’s availability and pricing, but Autocar reports it will arrive in 2026. Judging from the bespoke nature of the build, we expect it to be offered in limited numbers and at a high price.

The automaker offered a glimpse to the R5 Turbo 3E in the “Anatomy of a Comeback” documentary series that is available on Prime Video. The reveal, which you can watch in the video below, took place behind the closed doors of the design center. It was hosted by Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo, Renault CEO Fabrice Cambolive, and Vice President of Renault Design Gilles Vidal.

Renault’s retro-influenced 4, 5 and Twingo have gone down a storm, but the French automaker has very different plans for its other models. The company’s design boss says an army of new EVs launching from 2028 will look forward, not back, and begin a design shift away from traditional SUV shapes.

Design boss Gilles Vidal suggests we look to this year’s Embleme concept, a sporty, low-slung crossover, for an idea of what to expect when the new-generation electric cars arrive on their also-new EV platform.

Related: Renault Embleme Concept Is A Sleek FCEV Crossover With Ultra-Low Emissions

“The cars before the Embleme were maybe a bit misleading, because you see a 5, a 4, a Twingo,” Vidal told Autocar.

“The Embleme is a better representation of what’s next for the brand globally in terms of design, and maybe new silhouettes, for the future: generous shapes, not too minimalistic, but simpler than what we did lately on Scenic.”

Vidal even suggested that wagons, whose market share has been eroded by SUVs and crossovers, could influence future sport-utilities. He described sport wagons as “kind of sexy” and said their low rooflines but large cargo areas made sense for EVs that need to balance the twin priorities of practicality and driving range.

Vidal acknowledged that anti-SUV sentiment, which is particularly strong in the automaker’s home city of Paris, was a consideration during the design process, but believes that maybe the hate was unwarranted.

“There’s still a huge fight against SUVs on principal, but would you say the same thing about MPVs?” he asked Autocar’s reporter. “They are the same weight, have the same engines, the same CO2 emissions. But no-one would ever criticize an MPV, a respectable family product. Who are we to criticize aggressive looking cars?”

But while Vidal’s team is striving to come up with something entirely new and forward-looking to replace Renault’s familiar SUV shapes, that doesn’t mean it is already making plans to cut short the lives of the 4, 5 and Twingo. He described the trio as “timeless” and claimed they’d evolve slowly, like Fiat’s retro 500.

Ampere, Renault Group’s dedicated EV division, held a presentation in France, marking one year since its inception with some intriguing announcements. Chief among them: the development of a new A-segment EV for Nissan, which will be closely aligned with Renault’s upcoming Twingo. In other words, Nissan’s dipping a toe back into Europe’s small-car market, but this time, it’s electric.

According to Ampere, Nissan has tasked them with “exploring the development of its next A-segment EV,” aiming to leverage Ampere’s focus on “cost reduction roadmap and reduced development time.” The target? An affordable EV that doesn’t skimp on what customers expect in terms of performance or features.

More: 2026 Nissan Leaf Spied With Mini-Ariya SUV Coupe Looks

The new entry-level Nissan will ride on the AmpR Small platform. The same architecture underpins the Renault 4 E-Tech crossover, the Renault 5 E-Tech supermini, and the Alpine A290 hot hatch. It is also expected to serve as a base for the Nissan Micra in 2025, and the Renault Twingo in 2026.

Makoto Uchida, the CEO of Nissan, confirmed the brand’s intent to re-enter the A-segment in Europe, more than a decade after the discontinuation of the Nissan Pixo. The largely forgotten urban dweller was based on the Suzuki Alto, and remained on sale between 2009 and 2013.

As reported by Autocar, the talks between Ampere and Nissan are at an early stage. Still, the Nissan CEO promised that the new EV will “deliver the convenience and advanced functionality that customers experience but in a small size and at an attractive and affordable price.”

Uchida added that the fully electric successor of the Nissan Micra supermini hatchback (B-Segment) is on track for a launch next year, making it clear that the urban EV will be a different model. The Micra was previewed last year by the sporty Nissan Concept 20-23, following a bunch of revealing teasers from 2022.

More EVs Coming Soon

Ampere acknowledged the recent EV slowdown, but pledged to “accelerate to catch up with the leaders and widen the gap with its peers in Europe”. The company estimates that the EV market will grow annually by around 25 percent in the next five years, and wants to take advantage of that growth.

Currently, Ampere manufactures the Renault 5 E-Tech, 4 E-Tech, Megane E-Tech, and Scenic E-Tech in France, but a number of EVs are expected to debut in the coming years.

In 2025, Alpine will introduce the production version of the A390 sports fastback. Nissan will show the Micra supermini and the next-gen Leaf compact crossover. Mitsubishi has also confirmed a yet-unnamed compact electric SUV, based on the Renault Scenic E-Tech.

In 2026, Renault will introduce the production version of the new Twingo. Ampere will also start production of the first LCV based on the FlexEVan platform.

More: Mitsubishi Teases Two New Renault-Based SUVs, Will Launch In Europe In 2025

More importantly, Ampere will show the next generation of compact EVs in 2028. These will bring greater efficiency and sustainability, alongside a 40% cost reduction compared to current models. The Renault Embleme FCEV concept that debuted in Paris earlier this month serves as a preview of things to come.

2028 is also the target year for the “next technology leap” in battery chemistry. Ampere’s new cobalt-free battery packs are expected to combine the density of NCM (Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt) with the cost and safety of LFP (Lithium, Iron, Phosphate), while charging in less than 15 minutes.

Finally, Ampere announced the launch of a dedicated entity called Advanced China Development Center. A new team base in China, will work “very closely” with local partners, aiming to reduce development times of future EVs. Last June, Renault confirmed they will collaborate with an engineering partner from China for the development of the new Twingo, following failed talks with the VW Group.

It’s only been a few months since the Alpine A290 GT premiered as the performance-focused version of the new-age Renault 5 E-Tech, but the car manufacturer is open to building an even more insane model with the famed Renault 5 badge.

Long before the new 5 E-Tech premiered as a rival to the Mini Cooper EV, Renault provided the world with a tantalizing look of a future electric super hatch with the 5 Turbo 3E. The car, showcased purely as a concept, looked like a modern Group B rally weapon and insiders say there’s an internal push within Renault to make this vehicle a production reality.

Read: Renault R5 Turbo 3E Is A Modern EV Take On The Homologation Special

Auto Express claims the vehicle could be built around a bespoke spaceframe chassis and may cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Renault design chief Laurens van den Acker acknowledged such a vehicle was “not high on our priority list right now,” but didn’t deny the project’s existence.

“Obviously, we fill our drawers with sketches of our dreams, and this would be one of them,” he said. “We always have ideas, every designer has his dream cars in his drawers.”

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about the potential for the car to become a production reality. In late 2022, Renault chief executive Luca de Meo said the brand had found a way to bring something close to the concept to the road, but said it was all a matter of money. At the time, de Meo acknowledged that Renault didn’t have “deep, deep pockets.”

For the concept, Renault’s engineers opted to install a pair of electric motors combining to deliver 375 hp and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque. Providing the motors with their juice is a 42 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and impressively, Renault said the car weighs just 980 hp (2,160 lbs) and can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.5 seconds.

Renault has knocked it out of the park with the retro-themed 4 E-Tech and 5-Tech, and a bonkers super electric hatch could be the brand’s ultimate halo model. Fingers crossed.