The Renault 8 Gordini makes an electric comeback — but only as a one-off model
Renault has recently revived some of its most legendary models as one-off editions. Now it’s the turn of the Renault 8 Gordini, introduced in 1964: this classic sedan is being reintroduced as a two-seater electric coupe with a design inspired by motorsport.
Image: Renault
Renault is capitalizing on the nostalgia trend not only with its series models Renault 5 E-Tech Electric and Twingo E-Tech Electric, but also bringing back some of the iconic models from its 125-year history as one-of-a-kind vehicles. Following the R17 Electric Restomod concept car and the Renault 5 Diamant, Renault is now reviving the Renault 8 Gordini introduced in 1964 — in an electric version that pays clear homage to motorsport: with its flat and wide body design and 200-kW electric drive, the Renault 8 Gordini Concept almost resembles a caricature of a modern rally car.
The concept car was unveiled today at the Renault Carwalk – the brand’s showroom on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. This one-of-a-kind vehicle will also be displayed at the Paris Motor Show (October 12 to 18, 2026) at Renault’s booth. “With the Renault 8 Gordini Concept, we combine our heritage with modernity and bring together icons from yesterday and tomorrow,” said Alexandre Malval, Vice President of Design at Renault. “This concept car is a stylistic exercise aimed at reinventing the Renault 8 Gordini for today’s times. The coupe is designed to evoke emotions and inspire the imagination of all car enthusiasts. And when I talk about emotions, I’m not referring to nostalgia, but true passion for cars.”
The Renault 8 Gordini was introduced in 1964 with a rear-mounted engine producing 95 horsepower. It offered true racing performance but also required advanced driving skills — “a vehicle that was both efficient and demanding, serving as an excellent training tool for an entire generation of drivers, including Jean Ragnotti,” according to Renault headquarters. With the Gordini, they made advanced performance accessible a decade before the GTI phenomenon emerged. The distinctive double white stripes became its trademark.
Image: Renault
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Naturally, Renault will use these design elements in the electric version. The concept car is 4.12 meters long, 1.88 meters wide, and 1.27 meters high, equipped with 19-inch wheels at the front and 20-inch wheels at the back. With its 200-kW engine, this two-door coupe is of course much more dynamic than the original four-door model. Visually as well, the aggressive front end of this study is emphasized by its V-shaped design and six headlights. Renault does not provide any further details on the powertrain—likely because the extreme design is meant to draw attention first and foremost.
"The original Renault 8 was essentially symmetrical from front to back – a distinctive design that we’ve updated to give the concept car a more dynamic look," emphasizes Malval. "With its flowing lines, wide track width, prominent fenders, 19-inch wheels at the front, and 20-inch wheels at the back, it seems to fit perfectly into the road. The larger rear wheels create a sense of visual momentum: a nod to rear-wheel drive as a hallmark of the originally highly agile vehicle."
Incidentally, unlike the showcar R17, which was based on a collaboration between renowned designer Ora Ito and the brand’s design teams, the design of the Renault 8 Gordini Concept is 100 percent an original Renault development. The project began with an internal competition at Renault Design that sparked great enthusiasm. “The brand’s designers spontaneously submitted over 300 sketches: ranging from classic retro designs to futuristic styling, from concepts that combined tradition with modern avant-garde to GT-inspired looks. Two projects were selected and further developed as 2:5 scale models to compare them and create a new design that combined the best of both,” the manufacturer describes the development process.