The new five-door R5 features a 100kW/136hp electric motor and a battery range of up to 400km per charge. Drivers will be able to power electrical devices with the battery when the car is parked.
Compared to the original Renault 5, the R5 E-Tech sports gets a rugged, chunkier look and LEDs illuminate the bonnet nameplate and other accents on the front end.
With a base price of around €25,000 (RM130,000), the little electron sipper should be one of the more affordable electrics on the market and help bring this new mobility to the masses, Renault boss Luca de Meo said.
The original R5 made its debut in 1972 and was phased out in 1996. The once common shape has since vanished from roads although a few have been saved as cherished cars.
Fans will be pleased to see that the electric version retains the character of the stubby car with its short front and rear overhangs. Renault said the 3.93-metre model boasts a generous 326 litres of boot space.
The drivetrain features a front-mounted motor with a choice of 70 kW/95 hp, 90 kW/120 hp or 110 kW/150 hp. The floor-mounted battery has a capacity of either 40 or 52 kWh. The motor is similar to the one in the Renault Zoe.
One the road, the R5 is set to be fun to drive, leaping from a standstill to 100kph is 8 seconds, which is much quicker than the combustion original.
To help conserve range, engineers have limited the R5's top speed to 150 kph, although an uprated Alpine version from Renault's sibling brand is said to be in the pipeline.
