Where is the credit? by former Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn—the man who was later smuggled out of Japan in a double bass box– were quick to identify electrification as key a paradigm shift in the 21st century auto industry. Cue the cute Renault Zoe, forward-thinking in terms of design and engines, but perhaps too aloof to appeal to hearts and minds .
new one Renault 5EV has an unashamedly retro look, tapping into a design trend that’s been around for so long that it’s almost retro. However, when you see it in the flesh for the first time, resistance is futile. There is no doubt that this is the electric car that will destroy any remaining stereotypes, a surprisingly sophisticated conduit of all-round comfort packed with major automotive technology.
Current Renault boss Luca de Meo is certainly optimistic. “Some products are magical,” he notes. “You don’t have to have endless discussions, everyone always agrees on what needs to be done. And they do it. There is no inertia.”
Courtesy of Renault
One of the masterminds of mischief The revival of the Fiat 500De Meo has strong intuition on this matter. Even if you’ve never driven one, you know what a classic is cinema represent. The same applies to Renault 5: It enters a world of the early 70s, in which the Middle East is in convulsions, energy is suddenly scarce, and consumption is conspicuously outdated. Context is important, and this brings a sense of uncomfortable familiarity.
Wink design
The new R5 aims to brighten your day through sweet colors and an exterior and interior design that evokes an expertly executed Proustian fever. The shape may be familiar, but the new car has fuller proportions and many imaginative postmodern touches.
There’s a bold little four-corner graphic on the headlights that “wink” as you approach. The lower fog lights mimic that pattern, while the vertical taillights are another nod to the original. They are now designed to achieve levels of aerodynamic efficiency that would have baffled Renault engineers back in the day.
The chunky wheel arches are reminiscent of a mid-engine R5 racing carand the new car’s hood can be treated in a variety of ways. It’s a five-door car, but the rear door handle is cleverly hidden. And the old hood vent appears here again as a charging status indicator. Each band represents 20 percent of the available energy.
