| Renault 5 |
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Page 1 of 2 Next >>  Fun, iconic, innovative and in tune with modern times, the Renault 5 is back, reinvented to bring some sparkle to the world of compact electric vehicles.The original Renault 5 sold over 5.5 million units across five continents from 1972 to 1985. Always ahead of its time, it was the first car to achieve fuel consumption below the symbolic 5 litres/100km at 90km/h, and was even available in an electric version as far back as 1974. It was visionary to the end, marking the beginnings of eco-design with a roof made from bonded natural fibres, unrivalled interior space and innovative style. The Renault 5 E-Tech electric, faithful to the 2021 concept car, harks back to this glorious past while building on the enduring love-affair it shared with many. Yet it is also the epitome of modernity, from its all-electric AmpR small car platform through to its agile handling and cool, new technology. That includes Reno, the avatar who is ready to partner you on every journey, and a unique charging indicator on the bonnet. The Renault 5 E-Tech electric is planned to arrive in the UK in Q1 2025, with specification and prices to be announced in due course. Customers keen to be among the first behind the wheel can purchase an R-Pass, for £150, to place their order 10 days earlier than everyone else. In the collective memory, Renault 5 is not just the original model launched in 1972. Renault 5 E-Tech electric fuses evocative design cues from three models: Renault 5 and Supercinq for their overall look, and Renault 5 Turbo for its wing extenders and attitude, sitting squarely on the road. Unique in the Renault range, the light signature features two rectangles with rounded corners positioned in the front bumper, in the same place as the fog lamps on the Renault 5 Turbo. A floating design with the same rectangular effect is etched into the glass of the full LED headlamps. While the wheel arches are circular, the structure of the wings echoes the characteristic shape of the arches on the original Renault 5. The colourful roof trim (in black, red or gold), the deep red of the vertical rear lights and the vibrant colours of the bodywork also bring to mind the original Renault 5 and its ability to make the city look brighter. Over 50 years, vehicle proportions have changed considerably. Setting the tone, Renault 5 E-Tech electric is modern in every way, with large 18-inch wheels at each corner, and minimal overhangs in a car less than 4m long (3.92m). The wheels are flush with the body, with wide tracks (1.55m at the front and 1.53m at the rear). All these features appeared on the 2021 show car, which was designed without compromise. Drawing upon the latest prowess in engineering, these proportions have been maintained in the production model. A vehicle of attractive proportions, Renault 5 E-Tech electric is nevertheless the same size as a small, nimble city car. At 3.92m long, it is just 9cm shorter than Clio. The optimised wheelbase (2.54m) – a promise of generous interior space – with very short overhangs is just 4cm shorter than on Clio. The width of 1.77m adds to the car's on-road presence without compromising its agility on city roads. Ideally sized with its underfloor battery, it stands 1.50m tall, just 6cm higher than Clio. The standard 18-inch wheels are a key feature in the ideal proportions of Renault 5 E-Tech electric. The 195/55 R18 tyres come with alloy wheels across the range. The 'Techno' wheel features the same design as the 2021 show car, and is the only one to swap its central diamond for a red '5'. The 'Chrono' wheel on the top-of-the-range Iconic Five trim level resembles a watch face with a hand for each hour, but showing only the number 5, a nod to the name of the model, when the central logo is vertical. Renault 5 E-Tech electric will be available from launch in five body colours, two of which are absolutely iconic: Pop Yellow and Pop Green. They are directly inspired by two emblematic shades that were present in the 1970s catalogue and that are forever associated with the Renault 5. An intense sparkle-effect adds a high-tech note to the pop art look. The effect is only visible when you look closely at the paintwork in the light. From a distance, the paintwork looks solid. The three other shades are: Artic White, Diamond Black and Midnight Blue. The two-tone paintwork with the Diamond Black roof will also be available on some trim levels. The vent grille on the bonnet of the original car has been reinvented to keep up with the times. Today, it is a charge indicator in the form of the iconic number 5. When the driver approaches the vehicle, it lights up, illustrating the close interaction between human and machine. Another example of a humanised interface is the welcome sequence of the eye-shaped LED headlights, which ‘wink’ at the driver as they approach. Absent from the original Renault 5 but vital today for optimal efficiency are the aerodynamic features. Today, they are present but invisible, like the streamlined glass placed over the rear lights to optimise the airflow. Inside Renault 5 E-Tech electric, the dashboard stylishly combines the most outstanding features of several generations of Renault 5: for example, the two-tier structure facing the passenger, the padded transverse layout, and the rectangular instrument cluster with rounded edges. On the Iconic Five high-spec trim level, the “Renault 5” signature can be seen on the black horizontal trim facing the passenger above the "padded" area, which with its elegant backlighting adds an extra touch of luxury and high-tech design. The same attention to aesthetic detail can be seen in the design of the air vents. Breaking from the usual standardised, transversal design, they borrow the design of the light signature on the front end of the car. Iconic seats and upholstery The strikingly modern design of the seats is inspired by the iconic R5 Turbo, with its H-shaped feature, a reminder that Renault was extremely innovative in this area in the 70s and 80s. Robust, original and welcoming, the denim upholstery makes a stylish contribution to the fun nature of Renault 5 E-Tech electric. Made from 100% recycled plastic (PET) water bottles, this denim fabric is used on the seats, dashboard and door panels on the Techno version. A symbol of bold design and a prestige signature, the Iconic Five blazes with colour for a high-spec vintage finish. The seats are upholstered in grey fabric, with the H in heather yellow, and a large printed '5', also in yellow. This upholstery is made from 100% recycled fabric. A dual horizontal screen gives a contemporary, high-tech, fun look to the interior of Renault 5 E-Tech. Facing the driver is a 10-inch digital instrument panel displaying driving information in full, with a choice of five different views. The central multimedia screen is also 10-inch. It is powered by the OpenR Link system with Google built-in for the Techno and Iconic Five trim levels. Although Renault 5 E-Tech electric is just 3.92m long, positioned between Clio II and Clio III, it rivals Clio V for interior space, thanks to its AmpR Small platform and 2.54m wheelbase. For interior width in particular, it provides 1.38m at the front and 1.36m at the rear with the three-seater bench. The battery is placed under the floor to provide generous boot capacity of 326 litres (277 dm3 VDA). This places the car at the top end of the electric city car segment, and even ahead of several bigger traditional ICE-powered city cars. Easy to access with its high floor, the boot can also be divided using the 60-40 split/fold three-seater rear bench. A further 19 litres of storage capacity is provided by various compartments around the cabin. This space can be configured and customised using 3D-printed accessories, including a tongue-in-cheek baguette holder. Renault 5 E-Tech electric is the first car to be built on AmpR Small, the new all-electric platform developed to showcase its iconic design, with no trade-off in performance. Developed both to optimise electric vehicles and to bring them into the mainstream, it cuts costs by sharing a number of parts with the CMF-B platform that have no impact on electric performance such as the front suspension. At the same time, it takes a no-compromise approach to the development of all the aspects specific to the electric drive system, particularly motor and battery integration. All the electrical components developed for this vehicle will be shared with future B-segment electric models designed by Ampere for the Renault brand and its partners. The new AmpR Small platform is calibrated to enable Renault 5 E-Tech electric to deliver a level of performance and driving sensations on a par with its dynamic design. Setting a new standard in its segment, it further optimises the front suspension with a steering system that has a very short gear ratio (13.7) for unrivalled agility. With a turning circle of just 10.3m, it makes light work of manoeuvres in the city. Particular emphasis was placed on damping, in order to absorb the increased weight of the battery. The rear suspension features multi-link geometry, formerly reserved for vehicles further up the market. Its advantages include more dynamic performance on tight corners and greater stability on wider corners, as well as improved comfort by cutting percussion noise. In the case of Renault 5 E-Tech electric, the advantages are not limited solely to the performance of the running gear. The geometry of the platform also allows the integration of a larger battery (52 kWh), for a range of up to 400km / 248miles1 WLTP despite the vehicle’s compact dimensions. The new One Box system groups the braking and ESP functions in the same module to reduce the space required under the bonnet. It also halves the response time of the automatic emergency braking system. At the same time, the decoupled braking system delivers a consistently strong pedal feel, contributing to a better sense of connection with the car and the road for the driver, with the switch between regenerative braking and hydraulic braking taking place transparently. The brake pedal is not connected to the callipers, but to an ECU that prioritises energy recovery before switching to the braking system if necessary. The driver can also use the gear lever to select a B mode with increased regeneration. For premium acoustic comfort, the soundproofing is based on the same top-of-the-range standards as recent electric models in the Renault range. This starts with the smart cocoon, a patented new-generation absorbent material that insulates the battery from the passenger compartment. The motor suspension features a dual filtration system that uses the weight of the charger to soak up acoustic vibrations from the motor (a gain of 10 dB), contributing to the interior silence. Finally, an acoustic windscreen is standard on all versions. Further, a heat pump maintains thermal comfort in the passenger compartment, working with the 8 kW HVCH (High Voltage Coolant Heater) system, to save as much energy as possible from the battery. This feature quickly brings the cabin up to a comfortable temperature after start-up when the vehicle is cold. To pre-warm and defrost the vehicle before start-up, the cabin and battery can be preconditioned, either by programming the system or by switching it on remotely from the My Renault app. Renault 5 E-Tech electric delivers a high level of passive safety, on a par with the standards applicable further up the market. Maintaining the very short overhangs of the design while maximising structural resistance in the event of impact required extensive computing and simulation, particularly for the motor cradle. At the same time, the compact dimensions of the car required specific development work on the central structure of the cradle housing the battery. The advantage of the all-electric design of the AmpR Small platform is that the seat crossmembers have been specially designed to protect the battery without the need for reinforcements inside the body, freeing up maximum space for the cells without additional parts. At the same time, the vehicle includes advanced battery safety technologies (Fireman Access and Pyroswitch). Page 1 of 2 Next >> |
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