Sure, the new all-electric Renault 5 E-Tech been leaked onto the internet at least, what, twice now, but I think it’s still an exciting new car and now that it’s revealed officially, with full approval of the ghost of Napoleon or whatever Renault likes to do, we have all the details. And, yes, one of those details is a baguette holder, so you can stop worrying. Let’s dig into this stylish and seemingly sensible little EV and see what’s going on.
The Look
Most obvious, of course, is the retro-inspired styling, which pulls not just from the original Renault 5 (which, remember, we got here in America as the Le Car, which you could buy at AMC dealerships if you didn’t feel like you were cut out for a Pacer, but also from the updated Supercinq from 1984 and there’s even some cues from the wide-hipped Renault 5 Turbo.
If you look at the final design, you can see the influences and references from the three main source cars, but I feel like the overall design still feels quite modern, and not cloyingly retro.
The dramatic rear fender flares are less prominent on the new EV than they were on the mid-engined R5 Turbo, but you can still see them, and there’s a tiny version of the air-exhaust outlet just outboard of the lower part of the taillights on the 2024 car, if you look carefully:
Up front, a lot more liberties have been taken with the design; the grille is reduced to a black bar joining the headlamps (which do appear to have that smiling-eye look):
The hood vent has also become the charge indicator, and there’s lots of LED light effects and blinkery going on. From the press release:
The vent grille on the bonnet of the original car has been reinvented to keep up with the times. Today, it is a charge indicator in the form of the iconic number 5. When the driver approaches the vehicle, it lights up, illustrating the close interaction between human and machine. Another example of a humanised interface is the welcome sequence of the eye-shaped LED headlights, which ‘wink’ at the driver as they approach.
The Tech
The new R5 is Renault’s first car based on the AmpR-Small platform (formerly CMF-B EV, if you’re curious) which is designed to be a small, affordable BEV platform. The car is just under 13 feet long, and Renault says the “targeted weight” should be under 3,300 pounds. Two battery packs will be offered, a 40 kWh and a 52 kWh one, and the electrons gushing from those packs will be spinning a choice of motors, a 120 horsepower one or a 150 hp one. These may not sound like huge numbers for a modern EV, but remember, this is a small EV, and I think those sound like very reasonable specs, personally. We don’t all need to be lugging around 70 to 80 kWh battery packs just to go to work or your weekly pornography outlet store runs or whatever.
The 52 kWh battery is claimed to give 248 miles of range (the smaller pack will do 186 miles, which is 100,000 times less than the distance light can travel in one second, if that helps), which is pretty great, though that’s the WLTP cycle test, so EPA range would probably be lower if this comes to America, which it very likely won’t. Sorry.
Charging speed targets the now seemingly universal metric of getting from 15% to 80% in 30 minutes, and it’ll charge at rates of 11 kW on AC and 100 kW DC. The 11 kW AC charging is bi-directional, so you can charge your small sawmill with the car, if it comes to that, which it definitely might.
These are decent specs, especially for a more city-car-type EV. America could use more EVs in this category.
The 40 kWh battery pack is made up of three large modules with 31 cells per module, and the 52 kWh one has four with 46 cells. The battery pack is set into the floor, like most modern EVs, and the press release makes no mention of any under-hood storage space, so I think we can assume there’s no frunk, which makes sense for such a small EV, where space is at a premium.
In fact, space must be at such a premium that Renault made a point to tell us about how they crammed the braking system and ESP hardware into one, solitary box. Renault cleverly calls this “One Box!” Look:
The new One Box system groups the braking and ESP functions in the same module to reduce the space required under the bonnet. It also halves the response time of the automatic emergency braking system. At the same time, the decoupled braking system delivers a consistently strong pedal feel, contributing to a better sense of connection with the car and the road for the driver, with the switch between regenerative braking and hydraulic braking taking place transparently. The brake pedal is not connected to the callipers, but to an ECU that prioritises energy recovery before switching to the braking system if necessary. The driver can also use the gear lever to select a B mode with increased regeneration.
I’m not sure I’ve read a press release that has touted one housing for braking and ESP stuff?
The Inside
I like the interior, mostly because I always liked the original interior of the R5, which also had those vertical seams across the dash:
The fabric, the press release claims, is both denim and made from recycled PET plastic water bottles.
The big LCD screens are integrated into one unit that is reminiscent of the old plastic instrument cluster, too, and the center stack infotainment screen is slightly canted towards the driver, which seems cool until you actually think about the fact that the passenger is just as likely to use controls on that screen, and then it doesn’t seem so cool.
Hey look! A column shift! Why take up space between the seats for this little make-go-forward-or-back switch, right? The column is a fine place for this.
All The Electronic Crap
Yes, yes, the new Renault 5 E-Tech has the now-expected ADAS (Anthracite Dalmatian Access Syndrome oh shit no wait it’s Advanced Driver Assist System) Level 2 system, effectively a lane keeping and dynamic cruise system, along with front and rear emergency braking, which includes locking the wheels after a wreck. I see how that’s useful for safety reasons, preventing subsequent impacts, but I hope you can easily release it to get the car off the road or onto a tow truck or something.
More eye-rolling is Reno, the car’s “avatar,” or as Renault’s press release puts it, a “virtual traveling companion.” The press release says this about the ChatGPT-enabled software:
“The feeling of empathy created will strengthen the emotional bond between the user and their Renault 5 E-Tech electric.”
Hmm. Okay.
This sort of thing sounds a little more useful, though:
“An example of technology being used to provide real benefit, Reno supports users in learning about the car and its functions. It is an EV specialist, able to answer all sorts of questions and take practical action. For example, you could ask: “Hey Reno, schedule a charge for 8am tomorrow” or “Hey Reno, how can I increase the range of my car?”.
Looking beyond electric functions, the Reno avatar can answer the 200 questions most frequently asked by customers and identified by Renault After-Sales: e.g.: “Hey Reno, how do I connect my phone to the car?” or “Hey Reno, how do I change a tyre?”
I mean, if that works, that’s not so bad?
The Baguette Holder
I know I teased it, and sorry to make you wait so long, but here’s what they’re talking about:
“A further 19 litres of storage capacity is provided by various compartments around the cabin. This space can be configured and customised using 3D-printed accessories, including a tongue-in-cheek baguette holder.”
I guess this means Renault provides you with the files, and it’s up to you to 3D print the accessories? Sure, okay, why not? But I don’t for a minute believe the “tongue-in-cheek” part. They’re just being self-conscious. You know Renault’s designers and engineers adore baguettes and the thought of being trapped in a metal box baguette-free probably makes them want to fucking scream. If you told me the baguette holder came first and the team was instructed to design a car around that, I’d believe it.
And I’d respect it.
The Price
So, Renault hasn’t officially released the pricing, but outlets like this one sure seem confident saying it’ll go for about $27,000. That seems about right, and, good, we need more EVs for under $30K! We need some for under $20K, too, but that’s not so likely to happen. Oh, and, again, it’s still not likely to come to America, so, yeah.
Somehow A Detail Of The Renault 5 Reminds Me Of David Lynch’s 1984 Dune Movie
The Renault 5 Is Exactly The Kind Of Cool, Small EV The World Needs
This Is The Electric Renault 5 Before You’re Supposed To See It
I had a couple of LeCars back in the day. Unless they can figure out a way to simulate oil and tranny leak puddles on the garage floor, it will be a big fail as the ‘new style’ 21st century R5..Just sayin…
Oh, I want this I want this I want this. I want this very much please please please.
“Reno, the car’s “avatar,” or as Renault’s press release puts it, a “virtual traveling companion.”
It comes with an AI virtual Jean Reno?
Hell yeah!
I’ll take mine in Renault Racing Blue Code J45.
Just in case it needs to be said… Not Jean Reno (pronounced close to “ray-no”) but Reno as in Renault (pronounced close to “ruh-no”) 😛
I’ve chosen to leave this hot take here instead of trying to suggest an entire article about it. Ready? Let’s dive in.
Take a look at the silhouette of this car. Take a long look. Notice how that looks identical to all the boring blobular CUVs we keep seeing all over? That’s the silhouette of the penalty box. It changed from the weird square sedan of the past to a minivan bread loaf, then to a slightly taller car/bean shape. The logic would dictate that this shape fits more people and thus serves as the best people mover. I guess compared to the more exciting aero of a wedge it does, but where’s the fun in that?
Before you say, “wait rando internet commentator, corvettes and lambos do exist”, I’m going to stop you and say not for
$35,000whatever’s considered affordable these days they don’t. (I don’t count the Toyoburu twins or mazda’s stuff because they aren’t wedgy enough) And I’m aware other countries get the wedge for cheaper, but not here in the butter basket.Sorry, I just had to get that rant out. Please continue as you were.
Hmm.. your comment makes me think you’re not familiar with the concept of ‘hatchback’.
Understandable on this (left) side of the pond.
As a non-Australian being annoying, I don’t understand what you mean, there’s plenty of hatchbacks on the left side of that pond.
As someone from the left side of the pond who owns a hatchback that is called a CUV by the manufacturer and media, that statement should be qualified with an asterisk.
They mentioned the power outputs of the various motors, but not which wheels they drive, is it fwd or rwd?
All fwd
Why is its mascara running?
Its mascara is not running, it’s SMIZING!
or your weekly pornography outlet store runs
See this is what happens when you install the Autopian app on your phone…
This is why I always open Autopian in a private window, safely away from my porn/bank accounts/job searching tabs.
Aren’t they the same tab? No? Is it just me, then?
Hey, an OEM finally listened to my idea that EV’s should be column shift, and one of the functions of it should be regen braking. This one looks like the shift pattern is ‘R N D/B’, and while I can’t fully discount the ‘B’ isn’t for ‘Baguette’ given this car’s provenance and clear bread-centric engineering brief, I’m pretty sure that’s ‘B’ for ‘Braking’. Now if they had only added ‘Park’ as the topmost position of the shifter, they’d have gotten it exactly right.
Good news, the shinny part with the logo at the topmost is the park button.
If they get Jean Reno to provide the voice of the onboard AI, then it can stay. Otherwise, I expect a certain amount of indifference programmed in.
Not coming to America?! I guess I’ll keep shopping the luxury truck market then. Does RAM offer a baguette holder or just gun racks?
No baguette holder, but you should be able to tow an entire bakery.
TBH I’d love to see a baguette squished into a gun rack.
They nailed the back, sides, and interior. The front is meh. The lights are too small and not square enough.
The baguette holder is great. Kind of like the flower pot in Beetles.
Agreed, it looks great from every angle except the front, which is too fussy and unresolved. I love the seats and the quilted headliner! (And the wicker baguette holder!)
It’s announced with 3 motors, 95, 120 and 150hp, and they also said it’s coming to the US, later, as the hothatch alpine a290, xith a more powerful motor and maybe 4wd
And likely nowhere near the $27k pricetag. Yay?
The 27k price tg is for 40kw battery, 95hp and 11kw AC charging only.
Can’t wait until people start really hacking BEVs as they descend down into shitbox status. Lock the LR wheel, full power to RR, let RF freewheel, and full reverse to LF
That will make u-turns much more practical
Think about the Cars & Coffee exits!
As a former owner of three OG R5s, I wish this one racked me. But it doesn’t.
The original looked light and perky. The re-do doesn’t. I really jonesed for those small gray-plastic bumpers — the U.S. bumpers were fat — and the rectangular headlights instead of our round sealed-beams.
Most of all, the “new” R5 isn’t at all in the spirit of the original. That one was simple, pretty basic and offered little in the way of driver-assistance stuff or fancy features.
Now I really miss my old R5. Someone needs to tell Renault they can’t go home again….
> That one was simple, pretty basic and offered little in the way of driver-assistance stuff
They didn’t exist back then though.
And just as well. Didn’t want ’em, didn’t need ’em.
I think the greenhouse is out of proportion to the rest of the body. It feels too small.
The original R5 design was so modern that even if they are intentionally trying to reference it, it ends up looking like a pretty standard modern CUV design. Happy to see it’s still fairly angular.
Re: the original hood scoop – it had nothing to do with the ICE. It was just a cover over the cabin air intake to keep out snow, leaves, etc., and look cool.
Nissan Micra EV
I dunno man. I’ve had the baguettes in France and it’s very American to judge these holders as superfluous. True French baguettes are one of the greatest foods ever. American copies are weak and pathetic and it would follow that Americans wouldn’t understand.
Americans would understand a baguette holder about as easily as the French would understand truck nutz.
I’m American, and I have a much greater understanding of baguettes than I do of truck nutz. Bring on the baguette holders!
More like gun racks
A gun rack would make a great baguette holder! You could complement with a bumper sticker that says “Bring the pain.”
Take your star.
Pain et beurre!
Truck Nutz (demand the brand) are Canadian
I’ve had so many American baguettes… they range from “wonder bread that is kind of long” through “it’s brown, will have a crunchy crust if you leave it on the counter a few days” to honest, sourdough bubbly things with a singing crust. Find a good bakery and patronize them endlessly. American bread has unsung heroes who need our $6 tribute for a decent vehicle for cheeses (oh, I’ll leave my cheese diatribe for another day).
The Carroll Gardens/Park slope area of Brooklyn, which is home to the highest concentration of French Expats in the US i am told, has excellent baguettes. Currently I am living in California and they have these hideous things that look like baguettes, but are that crappy sourdough.
Vietnamese bakeries are worth a try. The baguette is important to Banh MI so they try ad get that and croissants right.
My theory is that in France the expectation is that no baguette sits around for more than a few hours before eaten, so you can give it that extremely shatteringly light crust and interior crumb that is just firm enough. In America we expect any loaf of bread, particularly some $10 artisan loaf, to not go stale if not immediately consumed, so you get these baguette shaped sourdough things, which are nice but not a French baguette. In France for some people it’s not super unusual to go to the bakery more than once per day for baguettes for meals.
I’ve never had actual French ones, but there was a bakery in downtown Nagasaki that had them—with chocolate filling down the center. Now, even a Nekulturny Gaijin* like myself wouldn’t dig in on public transport, but, after the trolley ride, then the bus up the mountain, well, I demolished half the first one before I was a block away from the bus stop…
Anthracite Dalmatian Access Syndrome was the subject of a PSA in the 1960s:
https://www.silverpetticoatreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/puppies-and-soot.jpg
So Reno is like Mini’s Spike which is like Clippy. I guess the kids these days don’t know about Clippy so they think they’re being cool and innovative when really they’re alienating an entire generation that had to use Microsoft Office 20 years ago.
But cool, hopefully Nissan can bring it over here as a Leaf EUV or what not, and hopefully
ClippyReno can be disabled or changed to look like a Hulu girl or something.I’ve always had an intense disdain for “virtual assistants” and you’ve finally helped me figure out why. They’re Clippy! They’re all Clippy! We have spent the last decade trying to reinvent Clippy even though nobody with any sense liked him in the first place! Down with Clippy clones!
Stop trying to make Clippy happen!
Clippy is behind this. He never really left.
Giving Clippy a 3000lb metal body and wheels seems like a bad idea…the end times may be upon us!
But the Microsoft tooltip said the only way to stop Clippy was giving Clippy whatever it requested until it was appeased.
Oh, I think I see where I went wrong here. My bad.
The only way to stop a bad Clippy with a 3000lbs metal body is with a good Clippy with a 3000lbs metal body
I was moving files around in google drive last night. There’s a new UI that suggests folders you may want to move files into. It got every single one wrong. :shrug:
I tried exactly once to design a 3D print and send it to my local library, and what I got was a damned mess. I’m an idiot, though, so maybe a ready-made file would end up better. But there’s such a thing as resolution and I feel old complaining that I couldn’t immediately figuring out something on my first try and I just talked myself out of the impetus of this comment.
“Hey, Reno, do you know what a Rockford is?”
”Reno, how do I do a burnout?”
”Reno, can you lock the rear wheels independently of the front?”
Ahhhh Rockfords take me back to high school.
Jim Rockford got his ass kicked every week, but James Garner was a boss. The theme also slaps as the kids say these days.
”I am afraid I can’t do that, Dave.”
The Ford Maverick does the same, and I think it’s a good place to be–they aren’t selling you all the accessories at ludicrous prices, but they aren’t just including what they think are going to suit most people’s needs.
I don’t need this car. I don’t want a car like this. But I do want this car, because it looks cheerful and pleasant and fun.
Oh for the days when rear windows were almost as large as the front windows.
Fingers crossed for a “Turbo” version.
So you don’t have to ask your shotgun riding female friend to hold your baguette. How thoughtful.
Upvoted for the double entendre.
I’m here for the bread.
Yeah – One more reason to retire in Portugal.
I think it’s more like 1/1000 as far as light goes in a second.
If they don’t proofread the text, you think they’ll proofread the math?
Jumped down halfway through the review to find this.
I don’t know where Jason shops for his light, but the light I buy obeys the laws of physics in this universe!