The Renault 5 Turbo 3e, a modern electric reimagining of the legendary Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2, recently participated in the historic Tour de Corse rally for the first time.
celebrating the new Renault 5 Turbo 3e – a modern,electric,and energetic take on the iconic models – progress phase testing took place on October 5th and 6th in Corsica,near Calvi. Public demonstrations preceded the historic Tour de Corse Rally, with Alpine dedicating months to customizing the unique car for the event.
The Renault 5 Turbo 3e is the first model in the electric “mini supercar” class. It offers remarkable agility, breathtaking performance, impressive drifting capabilities, and a pure sporty spirit, all in a compact package. Measuring just 4.08 meters long and 2.03 meters wide, it boasts a length-to-width ratio of 2.01. The car’s creation draws inspiration from the innovative DNA and athletic spirit of its predecessors.
“Career engineers rarely have the chance to develop an innovative,high-performance car like the renault 5 Turbo 3e. It truly deserves the ‘mini supercar’ designation. We’ve incorporated technology from the supercar world to deliver exceptional performance, driving pleasure, and excitement. The dual-motor setup, with a power rating of 2.5 and an ideal 43/57 weight distribution, was developed in a very short timeframe.” – Philippe Varet, Innovation, Concept & Project Director, Alpine Cars.
Developed by Alpine, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is built on a bespoke aluminum platform optimized with carbon elements, including the upper partition and floor, creating a lightweight yet rigid structure. A key innovation is the two integrated electric motors powering the rear wheels, delivering a combined 2 x 204 kW (equivalent to 555 hp) and 4,800 Nm of torque – available even faster than with a conventional electric motor. Each wheel can be controlled independently to optimize torque distribution, enhancing agility and performance. Front and rear double-wishbone suspension provides optimal traction.
Return to Rally and Success in Sports
The Renault 5 Turbo 3e prototypes performed presentation runs to a delighted audience on the closed Esplanade track in Calvi port, as well as on the legendary Notre Dame de la Serra and Montegrosso stages. For the event, the prototypes were painted in black, yellow, and white, honoring the Tour de Corse, and red, blue, and white, paying tribute to the Jean-Ragnotti-driven Maxi 5 Turbo that won the Tour de Corse in 1985.
The Renault 5 Turbo 3e was driven by Jillian Saunier,Renault Ambassador and Rally Expert. Gillien’s athletic achievements include the 2021 Alpine ELF Rally, the 2022 Ancient Monte Carlo Rally, and the 2024 Historical Tour de Corse Rally.
“driving this Renault 5 Turbo 3e is an incredible experience! It truly has everything you’d expect from a super athletic car – it’s a real rally beast. I was struck by the relentless acceleration, the powerful yet easily modulated braking, and the ability to execute impressive, controlled drifts. I’m driving a Maxi 5 Turbo in the historic Tour de Corse, the same colors as the Maxi 5 Turbo from 1985.” – Gillien Saunje, Renault Ambassador.
Immediately following the demonstration runs, Jillian prepared to continue…