Renault 8 Gordini celebrates electric comeback – but only as a one-off
Renault has recently revived some of its most legendary models as one-off pieces. Now, the Renault 8 Gordini, introduced in 1964, is getting the same treatment: the classic sedan is being reimagined as a two-seater electric coupe with a design inspired by motorsport.
Renault is not only riding the nostalgia wave with its production models like the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric and Twingo E-Tech Electric but is also reviving some of its most iconic models from its 125-year history as one-off creations. Following on from the Showcar R17 Electric Restomod and the Renault 5 Diamant, Renault has now reintroduced the Renault 8 Gordini. First launched in 1964, it’s been reimagined as an all-electric version that pays clear homage to motorsport. With its flat and wide body and a 200-kW electric powertrain, it almost looks like a caricature of a modern rally car.
The concept car was unveiled today at Renault Carwalk – the brand’s showroom on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The one-off will also be on display at the Renault stand during the Paris Motor Show (12 to 18 October 2026). “With Renault 8 Gordini Concept, we wanted to spark emotion by drawing on both our heritage and modern times, bringing together the icons of yesterday and the future,” explained Alexandre Malval, Vice President of Design at Renault. “This exercise in style sets out to reinvent Renault 8 Gordini for the modern day. The aim of this coupé is to inspire emotion and capture the imagination of all car enthusiasts. And when I talk about emotion, I’m not talking about nostalgia, but real passion for cars.”
The original Renault 8 Gordini was first introduced with a 95 hp rear-mounted engine. According to Renault HQ, it delivered genuine motorsport performance but also demanded advanced driving skills – “an efficient but demanding drive… [it] was a superb “training car” for a generation of drivers, including Jean Ragnotti”. With the Gordini, Renault made advanced performance accessible a decade before the GTI phenomenon. The characteristic double white stripes became its trademark.
Renault naturally retains these stripes in the electric revival. The concept car measures 4.12 metres in length, 1.88 metres in width, and 1.27 metres in height, and is equipped with 19-inch wheels at the front and 20-inch wheels at the rear. With its 200-kW motor, the two-door coupé is far more dynamic than the original four-door model. Visually, the aggressive front end of the concept is emphasised by the V-shaped design and six headlights. Renault has not disclosed further technical specifications – likely because the extreme design is intended to capture all the attention.
“We updated the distinctive styling of the original Renault 8, which was virtually symmetrical from front to rear, to give it a more dynamic look,” Malval emphasises. “With the flowing cabin lines, wide track, prominent wings and wheels of 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear, it appears to hug the road. The decision to make the rear wheels larger creates a visual sense of momentum: a nod to the rear layout that was the hallmark of the hugely enjoyable ride delivered by the original.”
Incidentally, unlike the R17 show car, which resulted from a collaboration between renowned designer Ora Ito and Renault’s design teams, the Renault 8 Gordini Concept’s design is 100 per cent an in-house Renault development. The project began with an internal competition at Renault Design, which sparked a wave of enthusiasm. Outlining the development process, the company explained:”Over 300 sketches were spontaneously submitted by brand designers. Every avenue was explored: from classic retro to futuristic styling, concepts fusing heritage with modern edge, or GT-inspired looks. From these 300 or so proposals, two projects were selected for development as 2:5 scale mock-ups. This made it possible to compare the two and create a new blueprint, bringing together the best of each one.”