Renault 5 Turbo 3E racks up orders despite €155,000 price tag
Renault plans to sell only 1,980 units of the 400kW Renault 5 Turbo 3E electric vehicle, which boasts the body-built rear wings of its combustion-engine ancestor and can accelerate to 100km/h in less than 3.5 seconds.
That acceleration is possible thanks to two in-wheel electric motors in the rear wheels, a first for a production model vehicle.
In-wheel motors are stand-alone electric motors housed in all or some of the wheels of an EV, eliminating the need for axles and powertrains. Proponents say this frees up space inside EVs, adds power and extends battery range because the vehicle is lighter.
A spokesperson for Renault said the in-wheel motors for the Turbo 3E will be supplied by Protean, a UK-based specialist in this technology.
The spokesperson said Renault received 850 reservations for Turbo 3E in the first week after orders opened on April 22, with interest from Europe, Japan, the Middle East and Australia.
To secure the car, customers have to pay a €50,000 (R1m) deposit and wait until 2027, when deliveries are expected to begin from Renault's Alpine plant in Dieppe, northern France.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Liverpool face hostile reception at Newcastle as Alexander Isak saga simmers
Striker Alexander Isak is set to sit out the meeting with Newcastle United about his future. Image: Scott Llewellyn / NurPhoto via AFP) Liverpool can expect a hostile reception when they travel to Newcastle on Monday, amid their pursuit of wantaway Magpies striker Alexander Isak. Meanwhile, Manchester City and Tottenham face off in an early test of their Premier League ambitions. Across Merseyside, a new era begins for Everton on Sunday as they welcome Brighton for the first competitive game at their new 53,000-capacity stadium. AFP Sport looks at the major talking points ahead of the second weekend of the Premier League season. Isak saga hangs over Newcastle vs Liverpool clash Isak is expected to sit out the meeting between his current club and his preferred destination, as a stand-off over the Swedish striker's future stretches into the final week of the transfer window. Newcastle maintain that the 25-year-old will not leave unless they can secure a suitable replacement and Liverpool meet their British record asking price, reportedly around £150 million ($202 million). The Reds have already seen a £110 million bid rejected, despite spending nearly £300 million on new recruits. Isak broke his silence on Tuesday, saying his relationship with Newcastle "can't continue" after he lost trust in the club. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading However, the early-season form of Hugo Ekitike has eased some of Liverpool's urgency to meet Newcastle's demands. The French forward, who previously snubbed Newcastle to join the Reds, delivered a goal and an assist on his Premier League debut in Liverpool's rollercoaster 4-2 win over Bournemouth. Arne Slot's new-look side has shown attacking promise, but teething problems remain—particularly in defending against counter-attacks. The return of midfielder Ryan Gravenberch from suspension should strengthen the team at St. James' Park. Newcastle's struggles without Isak were evident in their goalless draw with 10-man Aston Villa on the opening weekend. It's been another frustrating week for manager Eddie Howe, with his pursuit of Brentford striker Yoane Wissa stalling. City-Spurs clash rekindles old scars Manchester City's 4-0 demolition of Wolves on the opening weekend sent a strong message of intent following a season to forget. But the visit of Tottenham is a harsh reminder of the struggles they endured last year—especially Spurs' 4-0 thrashing of City at the Etihad in November, part of a dismal stretch of just one win in 13 games. Pep Guardiola believes his side has been revitalised by the arrival of new signings Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, and Rayan Ait-Nouri, who all impressed in the season opener. However, Spurs—City's bogey team in recent years—promise to provide a much sterner challenge. Tottenham have lost just one of their last four league visits to the Etihad and have scored at least twice in each of those matches. New boss Thomas Frank has already showcased his tactical flexibility, nearly masterminding a UEFA Super Cup upset against European champions Paris Saint-Germain before a late collapse. Spurs also kicked off their league campaign in style with a 3-0 win over Burnley.
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
VIDEO/PICTURES: Environmental activists march to kick polluters out of Africa
Environmental activists marched on Tuesday against the actions of Total Energies in Africa. The protesters marched between Standard Bank and Total Energies claiming the French energy giant is involved in land grabs, displacement of local populations, and ecological devastation surrounding its energy involvement in Africa, including the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project (EACOP). Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen PICTURES: Strongman challenge at Randridge Mall
The Citizen
14 hours ago
- The Citizen
20-Year old Variawa claiming his first SA Rally-Raid Championship victory
At just 20 years old, Saood Variawa claimed his very first SA Rally-Raid Championship victory on 16 August at the INGCO Vaal 400 in Parys – the third round of the SA Rally-Raid Championship alongside French navigator, François Cazalet. A win for Vaiawa and Cazalet and a win for Toyota Gazoo Racing, as the two stormed to victory with just 78 seconds between them and their nearest competitor. The race was packed with action, drama and dust, but both driver and navigator showed enormous grit and determination to stay ahead and secure the win. We caught up with Variawa to hear how it all unfolded. On the victory How does it feel to take your very first SA Rally-Raid Championship victory at just 20 years old? It's amazing. It's been a long time coming – we've been close so many times but it just didn't click. This weekend it did. It wasn't easy; we had a puncture on both days, but on Saturday we had clean air, found a good rhythm and that made the difference. We pushed hard and clenched the win! I'm really happy with my performance, my co-driver, the team and the car. We've put in a lot of hard work over the past few weeks and it all paid off. What went through your mind when you realised you had crossed the finish line as the overall winner? I had a feeling we'd won. I knew the gap to the car ahead and we managed to catch him quickly on the second loop. When we got to the pits and saw the team cheering, we knew. It was amazing. I've worked really hard for this, especially over the past year, and I was patient enough to wait for it. On teamwork and the race itself How important was your partnership with your navigator, François Cazalet, in securing this victory? Your partnership with your co-driver has to be strong. I trust everything he says. Often you can't see the corner – you're relying on instinct and his description from the road book. We're pushing 100% all the time and don't always know what's coming next. Building that trust and confidence takes time, but it's vital. Rally-raid is unpredictable – from dust to mechanicals to tough terrain. What was the most challenging part of the Vaal 400 for you? It was the speed. The event was very fast, mostly in 5th or 6th gear. That means if you make a small mistake, the time loss is big. We managed it well this weekend, but in fast rallies, keeping mistakes to a minimum is everything. How did you handle the pressure of racing against experienced names like Giniel de Villiers and Gareth Woolridge? I handle pressure quite well. Racing against big names was a shock at first, but now I enjoy it. Competing against world champions and drivers I grew up watching is a great way to prove ourselves. We've shown good results recently, including in Aragon where our team won, and that gives us confidence going forward. On career and personal growth At only 20 years old, you've already made history with this win. Where do you see your rally-raid career heading from here? I believe I'm the youngest winner in the SA Rally-Raid Championship. But the focus is on the season ahead – the World Championship and then Dakar in January. All the preparation and testing kilometres are building towards Dakar. Our results show how far we've come, and I'm happy with the progress. What inspired you to pursue rally-raid racing, and who have been your biggest role models in the sport? My dad. From day one I grew up watching him race. I was at every event, and it's in my blood. He's taught me everything, from karting through to rally-raid. Looking back at how far I've come, it really feels like a dream come true. You're driving for Toyota Gazoo Racing – what does it mean to you to be part of such a world-class team at this stage of your career? This is my fourth year with Toyota Gazoo Racing. They trusted me from a young age and gave me incredible opportunities – to be the youngest factory driver, the youngest Dakar competitor, and the youngest in SA track racing. Having Toyota, one of the most powerful brands in the world, backing me is amazing. We're working hard, the results are coming, and we're only going to keep pushing. On mindset and advice Rally-raid racing demands focus, fitness, and resilience. What do you do to prepare yourself mentally and physically for races? I train every day – cardio, weights, neck and shoulder training, and even boxing. Physically it's tough, but mentally you also need to stay strong. You always have to arrive at each event with your head in the right place and bring your A-game. What advice would you give to other young drivers who dream of competing and winning at this level? Dream big, work hard, and never think it's impossible. Dedication is everything. Looking ahead to Round Four in the Western Cape, how are you approaching the challenge of a brand-new event on the calendar? It's a new round for me, so it'll be something different. The goal is to win, but with the championship lead we also need to be consistent. We'll give it everything as always. Archie Rutherford, CEO of SA Rally-Raid, congratulated Variawa on his breakthrough victory concluding, 'Saood's performance at the INGCO Vaal 400 was nothing short of outstanding. To achieve this at just 20 years old shows the incredible talent and maturity he brings to the sport. He represents the next generation of rally-raid champions, and his win is an inspiration to every young driver dreaming of competing at the highest level. We look forward to watching his journey unfold, both here at home and on the international stage.' Round Four of the SARRC will see teams taking on a new event on 19 and 20 September when they travel to the Western Cape to compete from Louvain Guest Farm situated in the upper Langkloof Valley, halfway between George and Uniondale on the N9. Fans can follow the SA Rally Raid Championship on the RallySafe App, available as a free download from the iStore and Google PlayStore or on Facebook: Instagram: and : Youtube channel – @SouthAfricanRallyRaidSARRC for exclusive previews, driver interviews, live route updates and more in the lead-up to race weekend.
