While Volkswagen is relying on Chinese engineers and suppliers to create a cheap electric car, Renault continues to adhere to its own strategy to produce an affordable “electric train” at a price of 20-25 thousand euros. The key to success should be the subcompact Renault 5 E-Tech model, which will be presented on February 26, 2024. But you can already evaluate the appearance of the machine now: patent images have been published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The stylish hatchback, based on the Renault 5 model of the seventies, is very similar to the 2021 concept car. The general shapes and proportions are preserved, but there are also differences. Additional air intakes appeared in the front bumper, headlights became simpler, and their shape was confirmed by branded teasers that Renault published the day before.
The spectacular wheel arches of the concept of the production model will become more modest. The recessed handles of the front doors gave way to traditional ones (under a natural grip), the camouflaged handles of the rear doors acquired a serial design made of practical unpainted plastic (instead of glass and black gloss), the mirrors became larger. But the red edging above the doors has been preserved.
Presumably, the electric “five” will be smaller in size than traditional B-class models, for example, the related Renault Clio. That is, the length of the new hatchback will be less than four meters. The compact electric car will be built on the CMF-BEV platform with an electric motor on the front axle, which is 70% unified with the familiar CMF-B trolley, which underlies the compact Renault and Dacia models. Such unification is necessary to keep the price of an electric car within reasonable limits.
It has already been announced that the Renault 5 E-Tech will be offered in two versions with different traction battery capacities. The older version is 52 kWh and a range of 400 km on the WLTP cycle. Details are available only in February.