Renault 5 Turbo 3E debuts as a dedicated drift racer

The French automaker is preparing us to the introduction of its revived icon – the Renault 5. In its new life, the car runs on electricity rather than fuel and is slated to arrive at the showrooms in 2023. In the meantime, here’s a show car inspired by it: the 5 Turbo 3E.

The vehicle serves as a successor of sorts to both the 2 Turbo and the 5 Turbo. The company assembled both models in the 1980s, equipping them with actual turbocharged engines. Unlike those two, the new Renault 5 is an EV and will therefore make do without forced induction.

Created specifically for e-drifting, the vehicle wears carbon-fiber bodywork atop a space-frame base. The headlamps sit lower than usual on the front bumper, and air intakes reside where one would expect headlights. Power comes from dual electric motors working together for 380 PS (375 hp / 279 kW) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. The manufacturer claims racing from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes 3.5 seconds.