There was a time when looking back was taboo. No retro design, or even evocation of old models when designing new ones. But times are changing. At Renault, and many manufacturers now, the past now has a future and above all, the right to quote.
Until the Renaulution, last January, the diamond brand was hardly a fan of revival or retro design. Indeed, apart from the case of the Renault Fiftie concept car, presented in 1996 to celebrate the 50 years of the 4 CV, the manufacturer had not until then been used to looking in his rearview mirror.
Official achievements …
Slight thrill in 2013, with the Renault Twin’Run which a subtle nod to the R5 Turbo to legitimize the new Twingo, but the inspiration was quite subtle. The times are changing ! The new boss, Luca de Meo, makes his mark, he who worked on the rebirth of the Fiat 500. This year, in quick succession, the Renault 5 Prototype then the patents of the Renault 4Ever, evoking the Renault 4, testify to this profound turnaround. Projects that were lying around in the Renault style office and that caught the eye of the Italian boss. And unlike the Fiftie, it won’t be sword blows in the water. The two prototypes will cross the threshold of the series and will enrich the range at the beginning of 2024 for the first and in 2025, for the second.
TO READ. Renault 4. See everything from the new concept car tribute to the 4L!
… and unofficial
But it is not just the “official” Renault designers, now under the leadership of Gilles Vidal, who are inspired by the brand’s rich past. One of their counterparts, working on behalf of the Korean car manufacturer Kia, has just revisited the Renault Spider, skilfully combining the minimalist spirit of this windless car with the brand’s new codes. For his part, a future digital modeler, relied on the Renault 8 Gordini to brilliantly obtain his diploma. Not hesitating to transform the car into a coupé and graft Alpine underwear to it to make it … a potential rival to the BMW M2.
TO READ. Renault 8 Gordini. The cutaway return icon with an Alpine heart?
Renault inspires and that’s good!
On our side, at Argus we have not escaped this wave of revival either. Following a conversation with Gilles Vidal, on the sidelines of the presentation of the Renault 5 Prototype, who imagined what a “new” Fuego could be. we in turn sketched our vision of a future bubble coupe. In electric mode of course. And you, if you have the creative soul, send us your creations: a new Avantime, a revisited R16 or why not, a 40 CV of the 21e century, would that be in the range?
TO READ. Renault Fu-eGO (2024). 40 years later the Fuego will be back!
