In the days of the original Renault 5, there was a parallel R5 Alpine and the monstrous R5 Turbo with central engine. In 2024, what will be the respective roles of the future R5 E-Tech Electric and Alpine A5? Let’s do a check in.
At the start of last year, January 14, 2021 to be precise, the Renault 5 Prototype was the standard bearer of the Renaulution. Without beating around the bush, the crisp auto clearly announced the return of a Renault 5 in the range in 100% electric mode. It will be for 2024.
Always this January 14, 2021, sheltered in the semi-darkness of an image teaser, the one that will become the Alpine A5 (but not before the end of 2024) was also talking about it for the first time. Alpine announced for its part a switch to 100% electric. Crossed destinies? Certainly. Renault and its premium sports brand Alpine will pool their efforts to develop the two models at the same time. In the end, this strategy will hardly be different from that of the Fiat / Abarth duo, which cooks its recipe with a few different ingredients on the basis of the 500. The Renault group would be wrong to deprive itself of what seems to be a potential success.
Two cars “made in France”
The Renault 5 E-Tech Electric and the Alpine A5 will both be assembled at the Douai plant, such as the new Renault Mégane E-Tech Électrique and the future Scénic electric in 2023. The only difference is that city cars will be installed on the CMF-B EV technical platform, that of the Renault Clio 5 and Captur 2, cleverly converted to electricity to reduce development costs. Structurally speaking, they will share a central cell with five doors, part of the on-board furniture and the mechanical layout under the front hood which will make them models of traction architecture.
“The Renault 5 E-Tech and the Alpine A5 will share the central cell, mechanical layout at the front and traction architecture.“
However, they will each dress with a separate outer skin. Thus, the Renault 5 Electric will sport a pretty face with a flat hood reminiscent of that of its ancestor launched in 1972, while the Alpine A5 with its rounder muzzle will be closer to the original Alpine A110. More muscular, it will also display widened wings in the vein of those of the Renault 5 Turbo, the mid-engined car of the 1980s, adept at the time of bodybuilding. Each has its own personality and also its light signature. To consolidate its rally car look, the Alpine A5 will play the card of the grille with four headlights.
| Engine (hp) | Batteries (kWh) | |
| Renault 5 E-Tech Electric | 110-135 | 42-52 |
| Alpine A5 | 218 | 52 |
TO READ. Renault 5 Prototype. Hints in the headlights!
218 hp under the hood of the little Alpine!
Known internally under the code “Echo 5 Alpine”, the future blue bomber will steal the “big” electric motor of its big sister, the Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric. It will have a comfortable power of 160 kW, or the equivalent of 218 hp, for an immediately available torque value of 300 Nm. With a technical sheet worthy of that of the ultimate Renault Clio RS Trophy, The Echo 5 Alpine is already making our mouths water! And like the batteries touted on TV by a famous pink rabbit, so that the good performance of the Alpine A5 lasts longer, its electric machine will be powered by a battery with a capacity of 52 kWh (supplied by the Sino-Japanese Envision) guarantee of reasonable autonomy. It will have in its sights the production version of the Cupra Rebel concept car.
TO READ. Renault-Envision. The new Douai battery plant confirmed
€ 22,000 for the basic R5 E-Tech!
For the Renault 5 Electric, the specifications will clearly take an economic dimension with an entry level positioned at around € 22,000 (excluding bonuses). Therefore, no question for his electromotor to overflow with horses. The car will notably share its 135 hp engine with the Mégane Electric. The goal is not either to offer a very long autonomy for its battery, which would unnecessarily increase the addition like the chassis. Use a 42 kWh accumulator for the base model. However, the more upscale variants of the Renault 5 Electric will not hesitate to walk on the beds of the Fiat 500E and Honda e, nor on those of its rival and compatriot, the Peugeot e-208, which will be restyled in 2023. and will fully benefit from the novelty effect with its many luminous claws. To acquire this R5 plus, which will benefit from the 52 kWh battery of its Alpine cousin, it will cost around € 30,000.
