Many electric vehicles can feel more like appliances than cars, but Renault is determined to give its EVs more personality. The brand has already done so with the 4 and 5 E-Tech, as well as the wildly powerful, limited-production 5 Turbo 3E hyper hatch, which produces 550 horsepower. The French automaker could now follow it with a production version of the new 8 Gordini concept.
Unveiled at this week’s Paris Motor Show, the dramatic concept draws inspiration from the legendary 1960s 8 Gordini. It is styled as a small two-seat coupe and delivers a convincing modern interpretation of the retro original. Renault did not confirm production plans at the reveal, but CEO Fabrice Cambolive has expressed interest in the idea once 5 Turbo 3E deliveries are underway.
“With the R5 Turbo 3, we wanted to show that Renault has the capacity to be sporty and fun with an EV,” Cambolive told Autocar. “And when we discussed Gordini, we wanted to show we could do an electric car with a lot of emotions, sportiness and desirability. And nobody told me ‘ah, it’s electric, I don’t like the car’... First we have to sell the R5 Turbo 3E, and then deliver the first examples. After the Turbo 3E, the Gordini could be one of the opportunities.”
Renault has not disclosed the platform underpinning the 8 Gordini concept, but it has confirmed that the car uses a rear-mounted electric motor producing 266 hp. That figure may seem modest for such an eye-catching design, although it should still be enough to deliver an entertaining drive. A production model could potentially adopt the 5 Turbo 3E’s dual-motor setup, but doing so would increase its price and move it away from the character of its predecessor.
“The original 8 was a very humble car, a sort of working-class hero,” Renault concept car boss Roman Gauvin explained. “We wanted to keep that honesty for this concept. It’s not a two-meter-wide, 1000bhp machine: it’s still approachable and makes you smile. It’s about how we position ourselves against sports car brands: for us, it’s the fun factor. We’re not here to design a car that’s going to shave half a second off a lap time at the Nürburgring; it’s fun, small, agile and nimble.”
Renault supporters within the company would still need to make a convincing business case for putting the concept into production. Even so, a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive, two-door coupe could offer an ideal route for bringing traditional Renault enthusiasts into the electric era.
Renault’s 8 Gordini concept revives the spirit of the 1960s original as a compact, rear-wheel-drive electric coupe with 266 horsepower. While production has not been approved, Renault executives say it could follow the 5 Turbo 3E. The company would need a strong business case, but the lightweight, approachable EV could appeal to enthusiasts seeking a more engaging alternative to conventional electric cars.
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