Get Ready for a Blast from the Past: Renault’s Retro-Style Next-Gen EV Spotted in the UK, Priced from 4 Million Yen
Renault 5 E-Tech Electric: A Low-Cost Compact EV with a Retro Twist
A Budget-Friendly Electric Vehicle
Renault is currently testing its new right-hand drive 5 E-Tech Electric in the UK, where it is expected to go on sale in the coming months. This compact EV boasts a retro design and is set to rival the Mini Cooper E and Fiat 500e.
The production version was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, with a European launch price starting at 25,000 euros (approximately 4 million yen), making it one of the most affordable EVs on the market.
Design Emphasizing Driving Experience
The 5 E-Tech Electric is built on a new platform called Ampere Small (formerly known as CMF-BEV), sharing its core structure with the Nissan Juke and Renault Clio (known as the Lutecia in Japan). By utilizing the basic structure of an existing platform, development costs were reduced by 30%.
Renault prioritized drivability and adopted a multi-link suspension at the rear. According to Jean-Sébastien Blazy, vice president of vehicle performance, “It’s the secret to giving us great agility and steering response, and keeping the car stable even during extreme maneuvers.”
Blazy added that the vehicle’s dynamics would be fully comparable to the Megane, but with less sensitive steering and a relaxed gear ratio of 13:7 instead of 12:1.
Impressive Range and Performance
The electric motor and battery are designed to be small and lightweight, matching the compact body size of 3.92m in length and 1.8m in width. The motor uses a new inverter that is 15 kg lighter and 3 cm shorter than the previous model.
The nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery uses a simple layout, with each cell assembled into a rectangular module. The total weight is 240 kg for the 40 kWh model and 300 kg for the 52 kWh model.
The entry-level model with a 40kWh battery weighs just 1,372kg, while the 52kWh model weighs in at 1,449kg, the same as its rival, the Peugeot e-208. The weight reduction has greatly improved driving performance, with cornering speeds about 20km/h faster than the benchmark Peugeot e-208.
The motor is available in three maximum output versions: 95ps (70kW), 122ps (90kW), and 150ps (110kW). The mid-grade 122ps model accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in under 8.0 seconds.
The cruising range is up to 300km for the 40kWh battery model and up to 400km for the 52kWh model. The battery can be charged at up to 80kW for the 40kWh battery and up to 100kW for the 52kWh battery, with an external power supply function of up to 11kW.