Renault announced the new 5 EVs just over a year ago, and we’re still more than a year away from arriving. New spy photos have captured an early development prototype from testing, showing off the new car for the first time. However, this vehicle was so early in its development that Renault hid it under the body of the Clio, revealing little of the car to come.
Hiding under the Clio is Renault’s CMF-EV platform, which will underpin the Nissan Micra. Renault tries to hide this, but the wide track is hard to miss with those affixed fender arches. However, that’s not the only sign that this is an EV. At the front, the entire grille houses the charging port, and a thicker floor housing the battery is visible underneath.
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Renault previewed the return of the 5 with the concept, but it’s unclear how much of its design will translate into the final product. The concept features a retro-inspired look with a checkered style, exaggerated fenders and a sporty appearance. We hope that the final product retains the style of the concept as much as possible.
The French automaker has revealed quite a bit about the car. We don’t have powertrain details, but all signs point to the new 5 replacing the Zoe E-Tech in the Renault lineup, which returns a range of up to 238 miles on the forgiving WLTP. 5 must reach near this figure if Renault is to ensure that Zoe’s successor will continue to be a sales success.
Alpine, Renault’s performance brand, could also get 5. There are reports suggesting the model will be having an Alpine makeover. The hotter EV will allegedly have a single motor setup driving the front wheels, producing 204 horsepower (160 kilowatts), which is more than the standard 5’s expected 134 hp (100 kW).
The new 5 still has a lot of development ahead of it. We don’t expect the automaker to start testing a production body prototype until next year, and we don’t know when Renault will officially reveal it. The new model won’t arrive until 2024, and that’s still a few months away.
