Renault 5 Turbo 3E Track Test (2026): The Most Exciting Electric Car Money Can Buy?

What Is the Renault 5 Turbo 3E?

The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is a limited-edition, road-legal electric performance car that pays direct homage to the original Renault 5 Turbo of 1980 and its successor, the Turbo 2. The 3E designation signals its all-electric powertrain, its Goodwood debut and its status as the third iteration of the Turbo lineage. Renault Group combined Renault's heritage with Alpine's engineering expertise to produce each of the 1,980 cars. According to Renault, the car is made in France at the Alpine facility.

What makes the Renault 5 Turbo 3E special:

• 555hp from two in-wheel electric motors at the rear, delivering 4,800Nm of torque directly to the driven wheels without mechanical transmission losses
• 1,980 units produced globally, honouring the original car's 1980 launch year, with individual numbering on every car
• Carbon body on a bespoke aluminium platform, weighing 1,450kg
• Multiple drive modes from snow to drift, with a rally handbrake enabling full power transfer to a single corner
• 70kWh battery with 350kW DC charging, reaching 15-80% charge in 15 minutes
• Extensive customisation programme including historic livery options and bespoke designer-created individual finishes
• Six-point harnesses and carbon bucket seats as standard

What Is the History of the Renault 5 Turbo?

The original Renault 5 Turbo launched at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1980 as a homologation special built to comply with Group 4 rally regulations. Designed by Marc Deschamps at Bertone with Marcello Gandini overseeing the interior, it used a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine mid-mounted behind the driver, driving the rear wheels via a borrowed Renault 30 TX gearbox rotated 180 degrees. At launch it was the most powerful French production car at 160PS, weighing just 970kg. Jean Ragnotti won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1981 on its WRC debut and the Tour de Corse in 1982. Total production reached 4,987 cars: 1,820 Turbo 1 and 3,167 Turbo 2.

The Turbo 2 arrived in 1983, replacing the bespoke Bertone interior and light alloy components with standard Renault 5 Alpine parts to reduce cost while retaining nearly identical performance: 200km/h top speed and 0-100km/h in 6.9 seconds. Sports Car International named the Renault 5 Turbo number nine on its list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s in 2004. Both cars are the direct inspiration for the Turbo 3E, which honours their legacy with a production run of exactly 1,980 units.

What Does the Renault 5 Turbo 3E Look Like?

The Renault 5 Turbo 3E wears its motorsport heritage on its bodywork. The extra-wide rear wings reference the original Turbo's famously dramatic rear overhang, one of the widest rear ends in hot hatch history. Air inlets cool the braking system and enhance aerodynamics, while the charging socket integrates into a side air scoop. Twenty-inch wheels fill the arches completely.

The profile is short and wide, with the footprint of a city car and the presence of a supercar. Colours and customisation options reference historic liveries from the original Turbo's rally career, and the most committed buyers can commission an individual livery created by Renault's own designers. The numbered plate on every car confirms each one's unique identity within the 1,980-unit production run.

How Does the Renault 5 Turbo 3E Drive?

Power Delivery and Acceleration

The in-wheel motor configuration delivers its 4,800Nm instantaneously and without the mechanical losses of a conventional drivetrain. From the passenger seat at Goodwood, the acceleration is immediately arresting. The 0-62mph time of under 3.5 seconds feels conservative in practice, with the low battery placement keeping the centre of gravity close to the tarmac and traction exceptional despite the rear-wheel-drive layout. Vicki describes the grip level as incredible, with the car remaining flat and controlled under hard acceleration where a conventional performance car would struggle for composure.

Handling and Chassis

The carbon superstructure delivers maximum rigidity at minimum weight. Through corners at Goodwood, the car is flat with no discernible body roll and no pitch under braking. The steering is responsive and communicates what the rear tyres are doing clearly. When the driver applies full power mid-corner, the rear steps out progressively and predictably, with in-wheel motor torque vectoring enabling control that a conventional limited-slip differential cannot replicate. The rally handbrake enables all power transfer to a single corner, making the car fully adjustable in a way that rewards skilled drivers.

Braking

Braking from track speeds is immediate and progressive. The car remains flat under hard braking without the nose diving, a function of the carbon structure, the low centre of gravity and the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres working together.

What Is the Renault 5 Turbo 3E Interior Like?

Cabin:

The Turbo 3E seats two in carbon bucket seats with six-point harnesses as standard. The interior references the Turbo and Turbo 2 originals, which prioritised lightness and function over comfort. The numbered plate inside the cabin confirms each car's individual identity.

Technology:

The openR link system with Google built-in provides a 2x10-inch digital display behind the sports steering wheel. Over 50 in-car apps cover navigation, music and entertainment. Advanced driver assistance systems are active by default on road and can be deactivated for track use.

Storage:

Boot space is available for road use, confirming the Turbo 3E covers the journey to and from the track as well as the laps themselves.

What Wheels and Tyres Does the Renault 5 Turbo 3E Have?

The Turbo 3E rolls on 20-inch wheels as standard, sized to accommodate the in-wheel electric motor packaging at the rear and to fill the wide arches that define the car's stance.

The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. According to Michelin, the Pilot Sport Cup 2 is derived directly from racing tyre technology, engineered for high levels of steering precision and handling, and designed for longevity and track endurance. Real drivers have rated the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 on DriverReviews.

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is also listed as an approved fitment, providing enhanced wet-weather capability for drivers who prioritise year-round usability alongside track performance. According to Michelin, the Pilot Sport 4S balances dry grip with significantly improved wet braking and handling. Real drivers have rated the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S on DriverReviews.

Tyre options:

• Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, track-focused summer
• Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, summer all-round

Is the Renault 5 Turbo 3E Worth Buying?

Yes, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is worth buying for drivers who want the most technically innovative and characterful electric performance car available. At £136,000 before customisation and with 1,980 units available globally, it is both a driver's car and a collector's piece. The in-wheel motor technology, the direct rally lineage and the bespoke production programme place it in a class of its own.

The case for the Renault 5 Turbo 3E:

• 555hp and 4,800Nm from a unique in-wheel electric motor configuration available in no current production rival
• 1,980 units only, with individual numbering on every car
• Direct lineage to the Monte Carlo Rally and World Rally Championship-winning original Renault 5 Turbo
• Bespoke aluminium platform and carbon body developed specifically for this car
• 350kW DC charging, 15-80% in 15 minutes
• Extensive individual customisation programme including bespoke designer liveries

Before you buy:

• Production limited to 1,980 units globally; reservation required through a Renault retailer
• Pricing starts from £136,000 before customisation, which can add significantly to the final figure
• Official WLTP range figure pending homologation at time of writing