The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is nearing the end of development, bringing the French automaker’s electric tribute to its 1980s rally heritage closer to the road. With production limited to 1,980 cars, prices starting at $181,000 at current exchange rates and more than half the planned allocation reportedly spoken for, the small electric performance car is attracting buyers before deliveries begin.
Renault 5 Turbo 3E Is Nearly Ready for Production
Renault first confirmed the production-bound 5 Turbo 3E in late 2024. The project is now in its final development stage, with homologation remaining the last hurdle before the car is ready for the road.
Renault is limiting production to 1,980 examples. According to a report by PistonHeads, more than half of those cars have already been spoken for, despite the high asking price and the wait still ahead for customers.
Renault 5 Turbo 3E Prices Could Exceed $396,000
The electric car starts at the equivalent of at least $181,000 at current exchange rates. Some examples are expected to cost more than $396,000 when options are included.
Those prices put the Renault 5 Turbo 3E in an exceptionally expensive category for a car of its size. Its compact body and electric powertrain stand in sharp contrast to the substantial sums buyers are expected to pay for the limited-production model.
Rear-Wheel Drive and Up to 555 Horsepower
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E uses a rear-wheel-drive layout with two electric motors mounted in the rear wheels. Reported output ranges from 536 horsepower with a 70-kWh battery to 555 horsepower, although Renault has yet to confirm the final horsepower figures.
The car is expected to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3 seconds and reach a top speed of 168 mph. Renault has also indicated that its in-wheel motor design could be used in other electric vehicles across the company’s lineup.
Customer Configurations Begin in 2027
Despite the reported early demand, buyers will have to wait before they can complete their vehicle specifications. Renault’s full tailor-made configuration program is scheduled to begin in mid-2027, with deliveries expected to start in 2028.
That timeline is later than earlier reports had suggested. Renault CEO François Provost has described the vehicle as “a very meaningful project,” emphasizing the importance of getting it right.
Provost also stressed that Renault does not need to “become Ferrari,” underscoring the company’s focus on executing the project properly.
Renault 5 Turbo 3E Will Not Be Sold in the U.S.
American buyers will not be able to purchase the Renault 5 Turbo 3E through a U.S. market launch. The standard Renault 5 E-Tech, the more conventional sibling praised for its styling and price, will not be sold in the United States either.
Americans who want the Turbo 3E may have to look to the European used-car market in a few years. That option will depend on owners eventually deciding to sell their cars.
With production capped at 1,980 units, a starting price equivalent to $181,000 and deliveries scheduled for 2028, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is approaching production as a limited-run electric performance car aimed at a small group of buyers.
