The iconic Renault R5 is back with 375 hp from its electric heart

The iconic Renault R5 is ready to make a comeback as a rear-wheel-drive electric hot hatch.

It looks amazing and more importantly it has 375 hp.

A lot of purists will raise their eyebrows at this electric transition but it was inevitable in the current market.

READ MORE: This Renault R5 has a marble steering wheel that looks like a pretzel and gemstones for headlights

The good news is whatever the car lacks in terms of sound, it makes up for in performance.

Like the old school gas-powered Renault R5, the power is sent to the rear wheels.

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The Electric Renault R5 has two engines – one for each rear wheel – and a 42 kWh battery pack, which gives it 200 miles of range.

The battery is located in the middle as a tribute to the mid-engined layout of the original car.

Obviously, it doesn’t make much sense to talk about ‘engine layout’ in an electric car but it does make a difference in terms of weight distribution.

The new R5, officially known as R5 Turbo 3E, is a lot faster than its gas-powered ‘granddad’ thanks to the electric unit, but it is also heavier, tipping the scales at 1,500 kg.

That’s a lot for a hot hatch.

However, despite the weight, it does 0-60 in just 3.5 seconds and that’s supercar territory.

That’s because it has 375 hp and a lot of torque: 516 lb-ft of it.

It’s built on a tubular chassis, the R5 sits on 19-inch wheels at the front and 20-inch wheels at the rear.

It also features FIA-approved roll bars and – you’re going to love this – a physical lever for the handbrake.

When will it debut?

The company will debut the Renault R5 at the upcoming Paris Motor Show.

Renault and its performance division Alpine are working on a production model that is going to be loosely inspired by the car you see here.

But don’t hold your breath, it’ll take at least a few years.

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