Frank Stephenson is a car designer with more hits than the Beatles, including the Escort RS Cossie, first BMW Mini, Maser MC12, numerous Ferraris and the McLaren P1. These days he runs his own consultancy – Frank Stephenson Design. Here he shares his views on the 5 Turbo 3E
This is how you bring an icon back to life. The original Renault 5 Turbo from the 1980s was never just a car, it was an outrageous widebody machine that carried the raw energy of rallying and the kind of visual drama that defined an era. The new Turbo 3E captures that spirit brilliantly, not by copying the past, but by translating it into a modern design language.
One of the strongest aspects is how faithful it remains to the original sketch idea. When you look at the new Turbo 3E, you can still see the boldness of the initial concept drawing. It has that unmistakable rally inspired stance that made the original car so memorable, but the real achievement is in the detail. Everywhere you look, there are elements that have been cleverly reinterpreted and integrated in a contemporary way. A particularly smart move is the contrast between the body colour and the lower section. That change in visual treatment helps reduce the perceived height of the vehicle and gives it more attractive proportions.
At the front, the car makes an immediate statement. The bumper is bold and massive, with strong horizontal lines and parallel graphics that create width and visual stability. The reinterpretation of the front lights is especially well handled. Together with the crease lines next to them, they create a modern face that remains deeply connected to the original car. Then there’s the bonnet, with its prominent aerodynamic element, which adds a sense of power and aggression.
The wheelarches are perhaps the most essential visual signature of the original Renault 5 Turbo. On the new car, they’re exaggerated, dramatic and extremely wide, exactly as they should be. The side air intakes add character and fit naturally with the rest of the design. Functionally, hiding the charging port behind one of these elements is a smart and elegant solution.
Move to the rear, and the outlets beside the tail-lights work beautifully with the wide wings. The slight visual mismatch between the diffuser and the body panel above it gives the car a rawness, a rough-edged mechanical honesty, and a genuine rally spirit. Who says electric cars can’t be thrilling?
Well done, Renault.