The Renault 8 Gordini might make a comeback as an electric sports car.

Image: Renault

Renault is considering developing a high-performance sports car based on the recently unveiled 8-Gordini concept vehicle as a potential successor to the R5 Turbo 3E. CEO Fabrice Cambolive confirmed to Autocar that the 8 Gordini could be an option after the R5 Turbo 3E goes on sale.

The shown 8 Gordini is a study that reinterprets the classic Renault sedan as a two-door coupe, incorporating design elements from the tuning firm Gordini. According to Roman Gauvin, head of Renault’s concept vehicles, the model is not designed as an extremely high-performance vehicle but focuses on agility and driving pleasure.

The R5 Turbo 3E is built on the new Alpine Performance Platform (APP), developed for the next generation of Renault’s Alpine sports car line, the A110. This model features specialized hub motors with a combined output of 397 kW (540 horsepower). Production of the R5 Turbo 3E is scheduled for 2028, with a production limit of 1,980 units and prices starting at around 160,000 euros.

"With the R5 Turbo 3, we wanted to show that Renault is capable of combining sportiness and driving pleasure in an electric vehicle," said Cambolive. "And when we talked about Gordini, we wanted to demonstrate that we can create an electric car that evokes emotions, is sporty, and looks desirable. No one said to me, 'Ah, it’s an electric car; I don’t like it.'"

According to Gauvin, the concept of the 8 Gordini aims to strike a balance between a dynamic and non-aggressive appearance, a principle that could also apply to future Renault models. For now, the electric car is planned as a one-off unit intended to be displayed later at Renault’s new museum in Flins. The company currently has no official plans to revive the original sedan version.

The focus is on how the French approach sports car brands, explained Cambolive. “For us, fun comes first. We don’t want to develop a car that improves lap times at the Nürburgring by half a second; it should be fun to drive, small, agile, and quick.” The CEO believes, “We’ve found the right balance between a dynamic and not too aggressive appearance, and that’s something I really want to implement in future Renault models. This is typical of Renault.”

Also interesting

About the author

Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric cars, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.

Reader interactions