Latest news with #Renault5E-Tech
Business Insider
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Business Insider
I drove the Renault 5 E-Tech. This chic French EV has one silly feature you'll never find on a Tesla.
The Renault 5 E-Tech is an electric reincarnation of a legendary, hugely popular French car. It's the European car of the year and has proved popular with buyers on the continent. I loved its quirky touches — it's the only car I've ever driven that comes with a baguette holder. It's the accessory you didn't know you needed: a baguette holder. Yes, the Renault 5 E-Tech has just such a feature in the passenger footwell — a gimmick, of course, but a brilliantly quirky touch nonetheless that reminds you you're driving a French voiture. I was going to include a picture of an empty baguette holder, but then I found this one from the car's launch showing Olympic gold medal-winning British diver Tom Daley with an actual baguette in the holder instead. You could also use the holder for a bunch of flowers, should you be so inclined. As you might have guessed from the E, the revived 5 is indeed electric, and there is no gas equivalent. It came about after now-departing CEO Luca de Meo rashly promised in a speech that Renault could make a new car in just 24 months — a very tight timeline in the auto world — and managed to do so only a few weeks past that target. The 5 made its debut way back in 1972 and was an instant hit, becoming the best-selling car in France for 14 years, with about 5.5 million vehicles sold during that period. While it was available in the US in the late 1970s, as Le Car, it didn't exactly bewitch American drivers. Souped-up versions appealed to boy racers, and a turbo model won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1981. The new 5 is Europe's car of the year 2025, beating the Alfa Romeo Junior, Citroën C3-ëC3, Cupra Terramar, Dacia Duster, Hyundai Inster and Kia EV3. It was back-to-back wins for Renault, after the Scenic — a small MPV — took the crown last year. To find out why the 5 won, I took a train on a very warm Friday afternoon earlier this month to the northern edge of London to pick up an R5. It had a 52kWh battery, 150 HP engine, and came in vibrant "Pop! Green." Buying this car would set you back a shade under £27,000 ($36,300), and has a decent WLTP range of 251 miles. This configuration represents the best value for money, according to What Car? The range starts at about £23,000. I hit the M40 motorway bound for the picturesque town of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. I was able to do the speed limit of 70 miles an hour for most of the journey and got there in about two hours. As I failed to connect my iPhone to the audio system before setting off, I tuned into the top 40 singles countdown on BBC Radio 1 — Sabrina Carpenter ended Alex Warren's 12-week run at the top of the chart, by the way. The audio system sounds superb — and was apparently created by Jean-Michel Jarre, the legendary French electronic music artist. For a small-ish EV, the 5 packs a punch, doing the speed limit effortlessly with plenty in reserve, had I wanted to risk a speeding fine. I can't say it's the quietest car I've ever driven, but I can't fault the ride and handling. As well as the baguette holder, there are plenty of charming/weird touches, such as the "5" battery indicator on the hood that lights up. It's part of the car's "modern lighting signature with cheeky welcome and goodbye sequences," as Renault puts it. The 5 is a lot of fun to drive — more than the quite boring MG I tested earlier this year. Not everyone may love its many quirks, such as the fabric on the dashboard and ceiling, and I found the four—yes, four—control stalks plus controls on the steering wheel to be quite bewildering. Maybe I'm just easily confused, but I still failed to master the automatic transmission before having to give the car back. And I still have no idea what the "Multi-Sense" button does. I had about 50% left and didn't want to risk running out of charge on the trip back to London, so I found a charging station in a fairly dismal retail park in Banbury. This was actually the first time I've charged an EV, and it took me a minute to work out the right plug (yes, I am a slow learner). Fortunately I didn't have to create an account to use the charger and could just tap my credit card to release the power. Getting the charge up to about 80% took about 15 minutes and cost just over £15 (about $20). Public chargers are not that cheap in the UK, and had the car been close to flat, it would've set me back about £50 (almost $70) to reach 100% — not too much less than a tank of gas. If you don't have a garage or driveway, the economics of an EV become considerably more complicated, which is one reason hybrids are becoming increasingly popular. In April, the 5 E-Tech was the UK's best-selling EV for retail buyers. In both April and May, it helped Renault take the top spot for private registrations of pure EVs. According to Renault, the car also leads its segment in Europe. Car Dealer magazine also made the 5 its car of the year, calling it the "right car at the right time." "The Renault 5 has both added some much-needed excitement to the lower end of the electric car market, and given Renault dealers some fire in their bellies. This small car is delivering a huge impact," says editor in chief James Baggott. I'm inclined to agree. And you know what's coming now, don't you, American readers? It appears Renault has no plans to bring the 5 E-Tech to the US. Désolé.
Miami Herald
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
10 cool cars you can't buy in the US yet
10 cool cars you can't buy in the US yet The U.S. produces over 10 million vehicles each year, more than 10% of the world's total. But even with that output, American drivers can't access every great car. Some of the most talked-about models are only sold overseas. Whether it's because of emissions rules, cost, or brand strategy, plenty of interesting rides stay out of U.S. showrooms. highlights 10 standout cars that drivers in other countries enjoy but Americans can't-yet. 1. Alpine A110 (Next-Gen EV in 2026) The Alpine A110 is a cult favorite in Europe. It's lightweight, mid-engine, and reaches 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. Renault plans to electrify the A110 with a new coupe and convertible coming in 2026. Americans never got the gas-powered version, but the EV may be different. Alpine has confirmed it'll enter the U.S. market in 2027, starting with two electric SUVs and eventually this sleek sports car. 2. Suzuki Jimny The Suzuki Jimny is a small off-roader with a 1.5-liter engine and boxy styling. Despite its size, it's built for real trail use, with a ladder-frame chassis and low-range gearing. At just 2,500 pounds, it's agile and rugged. But it doesn't meet U.S. safety standards. Suzuki also pulled out of the American market in 2012. For now, U.S. fans have to import 25-year-old models or use niche legal loopholes. 3. Renault 5 E-Tech The Renault 5 E-Tech brings a 1970s hatchback into the EV era. It offers up to 249 miles of range, a modern cabin with a 12-inch screen, and a price of around $27,000. It's one of Europe's most talked-about electric cars. Still, Renault hasn't sold cars in the U.S. since 1987 and isn't planning a return anytime soon. American buyers will have to admire this one from afar. 4. Honda e The Honda e turned heads with its clean design, compact size, and futuristic cabin featuring five screens. It had rear-wheel drive and a 137-mile range. Despite strong fan interest, it was discontinued in 2024. It never made it to the U.S., and it probably never will. With its short range and $38,000 price tag, it just didn't fit into Honda's strategy here. 5. Škoda Elroq The Škoda Elroq, a compact electric SUV from Volkswagen's Czech brand, hit a big milestone in 2025 when it outsold the Tesla Model Y in Europe. It offers up to 339 miles of range and starts around $37,000. Škoda doesn't sell in the U.S., though, and launching the Elroq would create competition for VW's ID.4, so it stays in Europe for now. 6. Citroën Ami The Ami is a tiny EV meant for short city trips. It costs just $6,000, tops out at 28 mph, and has a 46-mile range. Technically, it's a quadricycle, not a car. It's quirky and cheap - ideal for dense European cities - but there's no place for it on U.S. roads. It can't meet federal safety rules and isn't fast enough for anything outside of neighborhoods. 7. BYD Atto 3 The BYD Atto 3 is one of China's top-selling EVs. It boasts a 320-mile range, fun interior details like dumbbell-shaped door handles, and solid performance for just over $15,000. But BYD has avoided the U.S. due to tariffs and political tension. A new Mexico plant could change that, but for now, the Atto 3 is staying overseas. 8. Cupra Formentor/Terramar Cupra is Volkswagen's performance-focused Spanish brand. The Formentor plug-in hybrid pushes out 306 horsepower, while the Terramar SUV offers tech-forward design and strong road presence. Cupra has plans to enter the U.S., but not until as early as 2030. It'll launch with all-electric SUVs aimed at cities like Miami and L.A., but for now, these exciting models stay in Europe. 9. MG4 EV The MG4 is a compact electric hatchback from China's SAIC, built to compete globally. It's 4.1 meters long, gets around 220 miles of range, and starts near $25,000. Though it's MG's first worldwide model in decades, don't expect it to show up in the U.S. anytime soon. MG hasn't sold here for years, and current trade relations make a return unlikely. 10. Škoda Enyaq The Enyaq uses the same platform as the VW ID.4 and offers up to 339 horsepower and 339 miles of range. Škoda refreshed it in 2025, improving its interior and aerodynamics. But like the Elroq, the Enyaq won't come to the U.S. Škoda still has no plans for a U.S. launch, so this smooth, capable EV remains Europe-only. Geography still matters Even in a global auto market, where you live still affects what you can drive. Brand strategies, tariffs, and safety regulations keep many exciting models out of the U.S. That may slowly shift. Chinese automakers like BYD are building closer to the border, and brands like Alpine and Cupra are planning American launches. But for now, these rides remain global eye candy - just out of reach for U.S. drivers. This story was produced by and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. © Stacker Media, LLC.
The Irish Sun
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
New fully-electric Renault 5 E-Tech is a welcome blast from the past and will be a massive hit
THIS is the new Renault 5 E-Tech — and this is exactly how you bring back an iconic car from the past. It looks simply incredible, especially in this fetching Pop Yellow colour, and it features loads of design cues from the original Renault 5. Advertisement 6 CHARGE TIMES: Rapid DC charging from 15-80 per cent takes the Renault 5 around 35 mins or up to 9 hours using a 7kW home charger Credit: RENAULT 6 BLAST FROM THE PAST: What was an air vent on the old Renault 5 turbo has now been turned into an LED battery level indicator Credit: Renault Such a welcome blast of nostalgia and unlike some manufacturers, yes Ford I'm looking at you, who have revived old models but created a version that bears very little resemblance to the car it's replacing. Renault have had the good sense to take everything that was good about the old model and re-imagine how it would be if made in the future. Pop princess Dua Lipa, who has a famous album called Future Nostalgia, has hits including the songs Electricity and Blow Your Mind, so I think Renault missed a trick not enlisting her to launch its new EV hatch. Yes, the new Renault 5 is fully electric, unlike the petrol-powered hatchback from the 70, 80s and 90s. Advertisement Key Facts: Renault 5 E-Tech Cost: From €25,995 Engine: 110kW electric motor Power: 150hp Torque: 245Nm 0-100kph: 8 seconds Top Speed: 150kph Battery: 52kWh lithium-ion Range: 410km Real world range: 356km Rivals: Peugeot E-208, MG4, Smart #1, Nissan Leaf But small electric cars are actually the sweet spot for an EV, not massive, super heavy, all-wheel drive SUVs. The new Renault 5 does tip the scales at 1,524kg, but that's not heavy for an EV, and it never feels overweight to drive. There are two battery sizes, 44kWh paired with a 120bhp electric motor and a 55kWh that I'm testing, which comes with a 150bhp motor. It's not crazy quick, 0-100kph takes eight seconds dead with a top speed of 150kph. Advertisement Most read in Motors But compare that to the 1.4-litre Renault 5 GT Turbo that produced 118bhp with a 0-100kph time of 7.5secs and it's not far off the iconic hot-hatch. And if that's not hot enough for you then Alpine is bringing out its version of the Renault 5 called the A290 — and its packing a 220bhp punch. But if you want supercar performance from a Renault 5 then the rear-wheel drive RS Turbo 3E that's built to drift is the one for you. It will produce 540bhp and 4,800Nm of torque and is rumoured to cost €150k. But back to the 5 E-Tech and as it has a wheel at every corner with short overhangs front and rear, it's really agile and handles like it's on rails. Advertisement 6 BOOT SIZE: Its boot is 326 litres and that rises to 1,106 litres with the rear seats down Credit: Jed Leicester 6 RETRO CABIN: Loads of hints to the old Renault 5 like the old-school graphics, logos and fabrics Credit: Renault There's virtually no body roll, the suspension is reasonably firm so the ride is more sporty than soft, but will still absorb bumps and road imperfections. Inside the 5 E-Tech's interior is another treat with lots of yellow trim and fabric and retro logos and graphics. Advertisement Then amazing figure—hugging seats, heated of course and not dissimilar to the original Renault 5 Turbo seats. The dash layout is brilliant with a series of toggle switches for the climate and dual screens, one for the driver and a central touchscreen infotainment system that runs Google operating system. There's four driving modes and everything changes to different colours with Sport turning red, and Sport mode really livens up the performance. But in contrast, Eco mode totally stunts the power output. Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun Its boot is 326 litres and that rises to 1,106 litres with the rear seats folded down. It has a real-world range of 356km, fast charging from 15-80% takes 35mins or it's nine hours using a 7kW wallbox. 6 Alpine A290 image bank media Test-Drive, from October 25 to 27th 2024 at Mallorca, Spain - Photo Yannick Brossard / DPPI Credit: Alpine 6 RENAULT TURBO 3E: Crazy rear-wheel drive Turbo 3E is built to drift, it's dual in-wheel electric motors produce 540bhp and a crazy 4,800Nm of torque and it's made from aluminum with loads of cabon fibre parts Credit: Renault Advertisement
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This Tiny $7,000 Electric Car Is More Popular in Japan Than Toyota's EVs
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. Japanese startup KG Motors is building a stylish, single-seat electric car for just $7,000, and has pre-sold 3,300 that it plans to deliver to customers by March 2027. That's more than the 2,000 EVs Toyota sold across Japan in all of 2024, according to Bloomberg. Called the "mibot," KG's car has a limited 62-mile range and a 37mph top speed. "The mibot is a small mobility robot packed with surprises and fun in its small body," KG Motors says on its website, as translated from Japanese. "It can navigate even narrow roads with ease, turning everyday short rides into special experiences." The tiny EV gets over-the-air tech updates, has air conditioning and a small trunk. It charges up in five hours on a standard 100V household outlet; no need for "special charging equipment." At $7,000, the mibot is about half the price of Japan's most popular EV, the Nissan Sakura. The brand is packed with personality; blog posts about vehicle development feature titles like "A slightly nerdy story about door design." In that one, designer Pokomichi discusses the challenges of designing a door that comfortably accommodates passengers, given the vehicle's small size. They also imagined the mibot fitting into a "parking lot that is sized for light vehicles," and the importance of sliding into a spot without the door crossing the lines when it's open. "Cars are simply too big," says KG Motors founder and CEO Kazunari Kusunoki. "Seeing so many big cars travelling Japan's narrow streets – that's where this all began for me." Japan has been slow to embrace EVs, but it has more hybrids than traditional gas-powered cars on the road. In 2023, hybrids made up of new car sales there, followed by 36% traditional gas cars. EV adoption is at just of new car sales, which is even lower than the US's 8% and far below the 20% + in China and Europe. Toyota's former president spoke out against converting to an all-electric lineup in 2022. A supposedly EV-friendly leadership changeup in 2023 hasn't gained much traction, although this month, Toyota launched new EVs. However, it still intends to invest in a variety of powertrains, including ramping up its plug-in hybrid sales in the US. "Toyota said EVs aren't the only solution and, because it's Toyota, Japanese people assume it must be true,' Kusunoki says. 'A large number of people in Japan seem to believe EVs won't become popular." Perhaps a cheap, small EV can carve out a unique place in the Japanese market. In the US, there are no similar options, and the market is full of huge SUVs. The Fiat 500e is small and fun to drive, but it's not cheap ($34,000 starting). Volkswagen is working on a $21,000 small EV for urban drivers, but it's only launching it in Europe due to lower demand in the US. The Renault 5 E-Tech is another new, small EV launch aimed at accelerating electric adoption in Europe. In China, automotive powerhouse BYD offers several small, affordable models and is working on a new one, Electrek reports.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Alpine's Electric A110 Will Be Lighter Than Its Gas-Powered Rivals
An often-touted gripe against high-performance electric vehicles is how heavy they can be, lugging around a massive battery to power the motors for longer than a few minutes. However, Alpine is flipping the script with the next iteration of its venerable sports car. The French manufacturer claims that its next-generation A110 EV will be lighter than its internal combustion competitors when it debuts next year. This is the same car Alpine hopes to sell in the United States. Alpine revealed the A390, its second-ever EV, on Tuesday. While the A290 is an uprated badge-swapped Renault 5 E-Tech, the new tri-motor sport fastback is bespoke to the brand. The five-seater A390 produces 470 horsepower with a 0-to-60-mph time of 4.8 seconds and debuts a new active torque vectoring system. The fastback's 89-kWh battery will get 345 miles of range in Europe and is equipped with 190-kW fast charging. Don't worry if this all-wheel-drive car isn't agile enough for your taste, Alpine isn't abandoning its sporty roots. The French brand is gradually unveiling a seven-model electric "Dream Garage" lineup over the rest of this decade to revive the automaker's image. The A110 EV is believed to be the next car in the works, with Alpine developing a new electric sports car platform that will also underpin a four-seat A310 model. Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo told Autocar, "The next A110 will be lighter than a comparable car with a combustion engine but with no compromise in performance." De Meo compared how Porsche doesn't use the 911 platform for anything, but cars like the Cayenne and Taycan are shared with other models — like how the A390's platform is shared with the Renault Scenic. Read more: These Are The Cars You'd Buy If They Were $20,000 Cheaper Alpine becoming a French Porsche is an appealing idea, and the French brand has toyed with an electric sports car before. The A110 E-ternité concept was revealed in 2022 as a harbinger of its all-electric future. It attempted to replicate a traditional ICE A110 as closely as possible, but there was still a performance deficit. The E-ternité was 568 pounds heavier and had 80 miles less range, but was 0.3 seconds faster from 0 to 60 mph. One can only imagine the performance gains the A110 EV will benefit from when shifting to a completely bespoke platform. The only other question that remains is if we will actually see these new Alpine electric vehicles in the United States. It's fair to say that President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs have thrown a wrench in the plans of any European manufacturer considering an expansion into the American market. Alpine was in talks with AutoNation to distribute its cars across the country, but that was before "Liberation Day." Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
