Renault, Ford, Honda look to the past for EV inspiration

Renault 5 EV prototype — The Renault 5 EV small car (shown as a prototype), based on the popular model from the 1970s, will appear in production form in several years.

January 19, 2021 08:58 AM

Electrification may be the powertrain of the future, but a number of new and coming electric vehicles are looking to the past for design cues.

The latest reveal is the Renault 5, a small electric car that the brand hopes will build enthusiasm under new CEO Luca de Meo. The original 5 – and its face-lifted successor, the Super 5 – was itself a breath of modernity when it appeared in late 1972 as a replacement for the sturdy Renault 4. More than 8 million were sold when production ended in the mid-1990s.

The Renault 5 EV is due around 2023, at an "affordable" price, said de Meo, who reportedly initiated the project last year as he reviewed the automaker’s future products after his arrival on July 1. It could be followed by an electric Renault 4, which could take the shape of a small crossover or SUV, according to reports.