The extreme Renault 5 Turbo 3E is sold out until 2028, with just half the build run still to be allocated.
The 533bhp hyper-hatchback is an electric tribute to the original Renault 5 Turbo, with wild styling, a totally bespoke platform and supercar-baiting performance.
It is highly exclusive, with just 1980 units planned to be produced – a reference to the launch year of the original car – and the first 1000 cars have now been spoken for. Prices now start at £140k for the remaining cars, slightly inflated over the £135k launch price.
“Currently, we are globally at half of the total volume, so reservations are for delivery in 2028,” project leader Michael Grosjean told Autocar as the 3E made its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
“It’s sold out until 2028 – and there is still one and a half years of production that can be reserved.”
The company has started building the first prototypes and is on course to begin customer deliveries next year, Grosjean said, adding that Renault’s most expensive car yet has so far attracted a diverse range of buyers.
“We have various customers, but what is common to all is that they are all passionate about wild cars and sports cars. Some are owners of the original R5 Turbo, and they want to have the new one as well.
“Some have more cars – Alpines, Ferraris, Porsches – and they find that this car is different, exotic in the landscape.”
The 3E is due to finish production in 2029, and Grosjean said there are not currently any plans to follow it up with similarly extreme limited editions but other models in the line-up could be celebrated in the same way.
Asked if, for example, the company could celebrate the heritage of the Renault 4 with a Dakar Rally-themed version of the new electric crossover, Grosjean said: “It’s possible. It’s not planned, but why not?”
The 5 Turbo 3E is loosely based on today’s retro-styled Renault 5 electric supermini but with a bespoke platform, its own bodywork and a pair of in-wheel motors.
These combine to produce a claimed 3540 lb ft of wheel torque, although the torque transferred to the road is likely to be more like 10% of that figure.
The resulting performance is a 0-62mph time expected to take less than 3.5sec, 0-120mph in under 9.0sec and a track-only top speed of 168mph.