Renault 5 Turbo 3E Sells Out Fast — And It's Not Even 2027 Yet
By Team Dailyrevs May 9, 2025
Renault’s €155K electric hyper hatch sold out its first allocation before production.
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Inspired by the iconic 1980s R5 Turbo, the new 3E blends retro design with cutting-edge EV tech.
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Only 1,980 units will be made, each boasting 555 hp, drift mode, and in-wheel motors.
The 5 Turbo 3E: From Concept Tease to Collector’s Dream
Renault has done something very few legacy automakers have managed to do without controversy: go electric without losing the plot. Their latest act? The Renault 5 Turbo 3E, a high-voltage reinterpretation of one of the brand’s most iconic cars — and it’s already sold out before it even rolls off the line.
To be clear, this isn’t just a modern Renault 5 with a battery pack. The 3E is a limited-run, €155,000 electric hyper hatch, developed not for mass appeal but for the die-hard enthusiast with a fondness for rally-bred insanity and deep pockets.
A Quick Look at What Makes the 3E So Special
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Power Output | 555 hp (or 540 hp depending on source) |
| Motors | Two in-wheel electric motors |
| Battery & Voltage | 70 kWh with 800-volt architecture |
| 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) | Just 3.5 seconds |
| Chassis | Carbon fiber monocoque |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive with drift mode |
| Production Limit | 1,980 units (an homage to the original 1980 launch) |
| Price | €155,000 / £135,000 / ~$175,000 |
| Expected Deliveries | Starting 2027 |
Heritage Meets Hype: Why This Car Matters
The 5 Turbo 3E isn’t just a rebodied EV. It’s Renault showing its teeth — taking design cues from the outrageous Group B era and reimagining them for the electric age. The widebody stance, massive rear wing, and rally lights are straight out of the '80s, but the tech underneath is anything but dated.
And no, it’s not a hybrid. This is fully electric, yet still manages to tick all the visceral boxes. From the in-wheel motors to drift mode, it’s made to misbehave — even if most buyers will treat it more like a garage queen than a canyon carver.
Sold Before It’s Real: The Collector Effect
Here’s the kicker: 850 units have already been snapped up, despite the car not being ready for production. Renault reportedly hasn’t finalized deliveries until 2027, but that didn’t stop buyers. Whether driven by nostalgia, speculation, or FOMO, this shows that automakers can sell electric performance — when it’s wrapped in the right story.
The move mirrors a growing trend: EVs are no longer just about efficiency or compliance. They’re becoming aspirational objects. In this case, a €155K hot hatch that drifts.
Final Thoughts
Renault may have just pulled off something rare — making an EV that appeals not to the masses, but to the misfits. The R5 Turbo 3E isn’t cheap, and it’s not practical. But it doesn’t care. It was built to spark interest, burn rubber (metaphorically), and stir the kind of passion most EVs still can’t.
It’s not often we get to say this about a hatchback with no combustion engine: This one will be remembered.