Renault’s insane 5 Turbo 3E electric hot hatch ships in 2027, limited to 1,980 units
Renault has released more information about its upcoming Renault 5 Turbo 3E electric rally car, and boy howdy, does it look hot as hell.
For background: auto enthusiasts look very fondly on the rally scene in the 1980s, when there was a serious arms race between auto manufacturers (particularly European ones) to make wilder and wilder race cars.
One of the most famous cars from that time period was the Renault 5 Turbo, with its iconic boxy design and chunky rear fenders which stood out even against other boxy cars of that age. It was based on the old Renault 5 hatchback, which recently got an electric rebirth of its own.
Calling on that history, Renault first showed off a 5 Turbo-inspired drift car concept back in 2022, but it was very clearly a concept – it didn’t really have an interior, for one.
Then, this last December, Renault came back and said no, really, we’re serious – we want to make this thing, and we want to put 540hp of electric power in it. At that time, it was just renders, but now Renault has a real prototype, and is putting plans in writing as to how it’s going to bring this crazy concept to market.
Today Renault unveiled what it’s calling “the first electric mini-supercar,” with lots of extra details on what looks like eye-watering performance in an actual sporty package (unlike so many of the giant electric SUVs we keep seeing these days…).
The biggest headline specs are these: 540hp (400kW), 3,196lbs (1,450kg), 160 inches (4,080mm) long, with a 0-60 time of <3.5 seconds and a top speed of 168mph (270km/h).
Heck. Yeah.
The power is delivered by dual motors – but rather than putting them inboard on the front and rear axles, like so many EVs do, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E uses in-wheel motors, with one in each rear wheel. So this thing is rear-wheel drive, just like the original 5 Turbo.
But unlike the original 5 Turbo, which topped out at around 163 lbft (220Nm) of torque (and only after you got it up to 3,250rpm first), Renault claims the 5 Turbo 3E’s motors are capable of an absurd 3,500lbft (4,800Nm) of torque (though that number is measured at the wheels, not at the driveshaft… because it doesn’t have a driveshaft, since it’s using in-wheel motors. So it’s not really directly comparable to other vehicles’ torque numbers).
All that torque on the rear wheels means one thing: this car will surely go sideways at will. But to make that job even easier, Renault offers a truly silly giant handbrake right smack in the middle of the car’s two front (and only) seats.
And if that wild dash and seat design doesn’t do it for you – Renault says it will offer basically unlimited customization to its customers.
Along with a long list of personalization options, many of which are inspired by famous versions of the original Renault 5 Turbo, Renault designers will help customers put together these options to make each vehicle unique.
But despite all this excitement, there’s one (or, more than a hundred thousand) big downsides: it’s not gonna be cheap. While Renault hasn’t listed a price yet, rumor is that it will start firmly in the six figure range, and potentially go up to around 200,000 (Dollars, Euros or Pounds – take your pick), depending on which personalizations you select.
But even more disappointingly: there’s no good reason for us to quote that price in dollars, because like every other fun thing it’s not coming to the US. Renault plans to offer it in “several key markets including Europe, the Middle East, Japan and Australia.”
And the last caveat: even with the money, it might be hard to get your hands on one of these. Renault will only sell 1,980 examples, referring back to the year that the original 5 Turbo was introduced. So, better get chummy with your local Renault rep, cause we can’t imagine those will last long.
Electrek’s Take
In a world where EVs (and cars in general) seem to just be getting bigger and bigger, heavier and heavier, this one is finally putting us back in the right direction.
Now, of course, it’s still quite a lot heavier (+~1,000lbs) than the 1980s version, and longer too (+~16 inches). Part of this is due to changing consumer tastes, part of it is due to stricter safety standards, and part of it is because companies aren’t pushing the envelope as hard as they were in the time of Group B rally cars. And then of course there’s the battery – a chonky 70kWh for ~250mi (~400km) of range, per WLTP standards (it will also have 350kW, 800V charging, taking 15 minutes to go from 15-80%).
But it’s also one of the first times we’ve seen an actual date associated with what looks like a truly violent electric hot hatch. Renault actually put out, in writing, that they plan to get this car to road in 2027 – unlike the Mercedes EQA concept, which turned into a freaking SUV; or the Golf GTI, which we’ve heard nothing about since 2023; or the Rally-inspired Rivian R3X, which looks awesome but we’ll have to wait until after the R2 comes out first.
There are some other extant cars that you might consider an electric hot hatch – like the Ioniq 5N – but that’s more than two feet longer and ~1,600lbs heavier than the 5 Turbo 3E claims it will be, so they’re really not in the same class at all. Closer to the same class is the Volvo EX30, at 7 inches longer, ~800lbs heavier, and ~120 less horsepower. Then there are the similarly-sized Mini Cooper SE, and even-smaller Fiat 500e Abarth, but both of those pack less than a third as much horsepower at comparable weights to the Renault.
So, with the specs we’ve seen, it’s in a class of its own – at least on paper, and at least for now. Your turn, Rivian – and the rest of the industry, too. Renault looks like they’re throwing down a gauntlet and showing us what can be done, but let’s stop seeing cancelled concepts and limited-edition prestige cars, and get some more fun, small, powerful EVs – and some of us would love to see them outside of Europe, too.
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Chrysler parent company Stellantis is sinking billions on electric Jeeps and Chargers that no one wants, but the they’ve developed market-leading EVs in Europe, and this latest, £36,995 DS Automobiles No4 is exactly the sort of electric crossover that could rejuvenate the brand’s American prospects. The only question now is: why won’t they bring it here?
Both the Dodge and Jeep-branded Stellantis EVs are being offered with huge discounts in a bid to generate some kind of market interest, but the company’s American product and marketing teams seem to be deeply confused about what the market actually wants. Over in Europe, though, Stellantis’ EVs are hot sellers – and this latest five-passenger crossover from the company is expected to steal even more sales from the Model Y.
The new all-electric No4 E-Tense model from Stellantis’ French brand DS Automobiles will be offered at three trim levels starting with the Pallas at £36,995 (approx. $48K US), rising to £39,160 for the Pallas+ and topping out at £41,860 (approx. $56K US, before incentives get applied) for the range-topping Etoile.
All three trims use a front-mounted electric motor rated at 213 hp, drawing from a 58.3‑kWh battery pack. That setup delivers up to 280 miles on the WLTP cycle (about 240 miles by EPA estimates). That feels like a lot of miles from a relatively small battery, aided no doubt by the DS No4’s aerodynamic. Inside the No4’s sculpted flanks is enough room for five adults and a bunch of their stuff, as well as an incredibly sexy dash and infotainment layout that (in the official press photos, at least) seems positively slathered in Alcantara (think “vegan suede”).
With 120 kW fast charging capabilities, the No4’s battery pack can replenish from 20 to 80 percent in under 30 minutes. Thanks to built‑in V2L/V2X tech, the No4 can also supply power back to external devices.
Electrek’s Take
I think it would be a hit. As for why the marketing gurus at whatever’s left of the old Chrysler corporation seem to think an electric muscle car that no one asked for or a Dodge-branded Alfa Romeo that no one will ever ask for is a better use of their marketing dollars – that’s simply beyond me.
Maybe you guys know? Check out these photos of the new DS No4, then scroll on down to the comments and let us know what you think of Stellantis’ US product plans, and whether or not they messed up canceling the Airflow after all.
SOURCE | IMAGES: DS Automobiles.
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The clock is running out on some of the best EV lease deals of the year. With the 25% tariff on imported EVs already hitting and the federal tax credit set to vanish after September 30, automakers are dangling some serious end-of-the-month offers. If you’ve been waiting to go electric, now’s the time. CarsDirect spotted three August EV price drops worth a look, but you’ll need to move fast, because these deals won’t last past the holiday weekend.
2025 Mercedes EQE SUV: $62 per month price drop
Mercedes is sweetening the pot on its EQE SUV as it works to move inventory. The 2025 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ SUV can now be leased for $629 a month for 36 months with $7,923 due at signing. That works out to an effective $849 a month – a $62 drop from previous deals. For a nearly $80,000 luxury EV, that’s not a bad offer.
But timing is key. The federal EV tax credit disappears next month, and Mercedes is set to pause US EV orders on September 1, which could make finding the right model tougher. Current incentives run through September 2, so if you’ve been eyeing an EQE, lock one in now before the market shifts.
Click here for a local dealer with the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ SUV in stock.–trusted affiliate link
Click here to find a local dealer with the Mercedes EQE SUV in stock.–trusted affiliate link
2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz: $90 per month price drop
As of August 22, the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz picked up a hidden $3,000 Dealer Lease Bonus – that is, dealer cash that only shows up if you lease.
That incentive knocks the Pro S trim down to $589 a month for 36 months with $5,999 due at signing. Do the math, and that’s $756 a month effective cost – a $90 drop from the earlier $846 offer. With $10,500 in total savings, this is the best deal yet on the ID. Buzz and one of the standout Labor Day EV lease offers.
Click here for a local dealer with the Volkswagen ID. Buzz in stock.–trusted affiliate link
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N: $150 per month price drop
Hyundai just slashed the price on its most powerful EV yet. The 2025 IONIQ 5 N can now be leased for $549 a month for 36 months with $3,999 due at signing (10,000 miles a year). That works out to an effective $660 a month – a huge $150 drop from July.
For a track-ready performance car, that’s a steal. And unlike most performance machines, the IONIQ 5 N doesn’t guzzle gas – you can just plug it in overnight at home. Current offers run through September 2.
Click here for a local dealer with the IONIQ 5 N in stock.–trusted affiliate link
Read more: From $129 a month: 5 of the best EV lease deals in August
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UK delivery firm DPD is putting one of Terberg’s heavy-duty electric yard tractors to the test at its giant, Oldbury, UK logistics hub – and its findings will help DPD shape a cleaner, more sustainable fleet strategy for the future.
DPD operates a fleet of over 50 yard hostlers (or “tugs” in the UK) to perform all trailer movements across its five sorting hubs in Oldbury, Smethwick, and Hinckley. Currently, those yards are serviced by a fleet of diesel tractors – but the company is interested in decarbonizing and “keen” to understand how EVs could be deployed across the fleet in the longer term.
“Tugs are the lifeblood of our hub operation, performing all trailer movements efficiently and safely across the five sites,” says Tim Jones, Director of Marketing, Communications, and Sustainability at DPD UK.
To that end, the company has deployed a Royal Terberg YT203-EV fitted with a pair of 78 kWh batteries, but it can be spec’ed up to 236 kWh and an almost unbelievable 105 tonne GCVWR. Even with “just” 156 kWh, the Terberg is able to work nearly a full 24 hours between charging – capability that is on par with diesel. At least.
“Terberg DTS are proud to be able to assist DPD on the way to Net Zero (emissions) and it was great to be able to work with DPD’s drivers and demonstrate what the YT203-EV can do in their own yard,” explains Peter Giles, Head of UK Logistics Sales at Terberg DTS. “Their aim is to be one of the leaders in the march to a more sustainable fleet future and they have already amassed a lot of knowledge and experience working with EVs. We know just how versatile and effective the vehicle is, but every operation is slightly different and working on-site with their own drivers means DPD can get really meaningful feedback from those who know the job better than anyone.”
Several operators will be trying out the YT203-EV across different shifts and operations to get feedback. So far, however, they seem hyped. “The electric tug (performs) incredibly well,” adds Jones. “Our drivers were really impressed, especially with the ease of use and driver comfort.”
Electrek’s Take
Whether it’s Terberg, Tico, or Orange EV, terminal tractors are an ideal application for electrification, and companies like DHL have spent more than a decade proving that out. And now that DPD is giving these HDEVs a chance, expect to see a whole lot more of them getting deployed soon.
SOURCE | IMAGES: DPD UK.
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