Renault 5 Turbo 3E electric car confirmed for Australia, still no sign of the regular version
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The Renault 5 electric car has been confirmed for sale in Australia, but – for now – not the version more customers can afford.
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E electric car – a 373kW rear-wheel-drive hot hatch inspired by the 1980s Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2 – has been locked in for Australia in right-hand drive.
But there is still no confirmation of the regular Renault 5 – with far more sedate performance for a fraction of the price – for Australia, nearly 12 months after it was revealed in Europe.
A Renault Australia spokesperson said the brand remains “really excited” about the regular R5, and the company has previously said it is “working on it” – but the car must be developed for Australian Design Rules (ADR) before it can be introduced locally.
MORE: Renault 5 electric hatch one step closer to Australia
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is loosely based on the standard five-door model, but the two are very different machines.
Based on a lightweight carbon-fibre ‘superstructure’, the three-door Turbo 3E is powered by two in-wheel electric motors – both on the rear axle – developing 373kW.
Renault claims the car is good for a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.5 seconds – as quick as many all-wheel-drive performance cars – with bulging, wide-arched bodywork inspired by 1980s Renault 5s.
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Pricing for Australia is yet to be announced, as well as how many will come to local showrooms – or when they will arrive.
Estimates in Europe suggest the car could cost the equivalent of $200,000, much dearer than the circa-$40,000 price of the regular Renault 5 overseas.
Expressions of interest are now open on the Renault Australia website, and the company says an allocation for Australia was confirmed “just hours” before the holiday shutdown.
“We got the green light for this car overnight and we are not waiting a moment to get things moving,” Renault Australia boss Glen Sealey said in a media statement.
“Customers in Australia will be able to fill in their details on an expressions of interest page, which will make them the first to know when there are important updates – and it will make them the first to know when it comes time to place an order.
“Renault head office in France has been very supportive of Australia.
“The fact we've been able to secure the Renault 5 Turbo 3E for our customers so soon after it was confirmed for production in Europe, shows how committed Renault is to the Australian market – with this and other exciting models around the corner.”
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