Renault Australia focused on retro electrical hatchback

Renault Australia says it’s interested in selling the electric 5 hatchback, but a local launch for the compact EV is far from confirmed.

“We will take it if they make it in right-hand drive, we have our hand up. Then it’s, will they make the additional investment to engineer the car for [Australian Design Rules] in Australia?” said Renault Australia boss Glen Sealey.

“The reality is that, say it costs you three million euros to engineer that car for Australia or spend that for another spec for that car in Europe that will give them a better return, so it’s about allocation of final resources.”

Should it be approved by head office, it mightn’t launch until 2025. It’s set to enter production in France in 2024, after having been first revealed in concept form in 2021.

It’ll use a new electric motor called the ‘ePT-100kW’, related to the ePT-160kW motor from the larger Megane E-Tech Electric, with a 200kW motor set to enter production later in the decade.

The synchronous motor with a wound rotor – and expected absence of rare earth materials – will as its name suggests produce 100kW of power.

Under the skin, we know the Renault 5 will make use of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s CMF-BEV electric platform.

The CMF-BEV platform shares bits with the CMF-B platform that underpins the Renault Captur and Nissan Juke, and promises to cut the price of new EVs by one third.

The production Renault 5 EV concept’s exaggerated design is inspired by the 1972 original with the shape of the hatchback, rear light signature, and window line carried over.

Renault still hasn’t confirmed details of the 5 electric hatchback’s battery size and claimed range as of yet.

However it’s understood the battery will have a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) chemistry, and the CMF-BEV platform will offer up to 400km of range according to WLTP testing.

A new Nissan Micra electric city car will also be based on the platform beneath the Renault 5, as will a high-performance Alpine version.

Both of these upcoming electric vehicles (EVs) have been teased, with the Nissan Micra looking bubbly and cute, and the Alpine Renault 5 EV having a large rear wing and rally spotlights at the front.

Renault’s retro revolution won’t end with the upcoming 5. The brand’s electric rollout will include a Renault 4-inspired SUV, previewed with the 2022 4Ever Trophy concept.

A production version of this is due by 2025.

Renault has offered a small electric hatchback in Australia before with the Zoe, but it was far from a hit – in stark contrast to its considerably stronger performance in Europe.

The French brand sold just 132 examples between 2017 and 2020 – when it discontinued the model – scrapping plans to bring a mid-life update Down Under.

“With such limited numbers, it makes it a difficult case to present to head office – especially when they’re selling more than 10,000 units a month [overseas],” Renault Australia senior product manager Charly Clercin said at the time.