Renault 5 Turbo design review: ‘rarely does such a project go well, but Gandini proved that it was possible’

Given the success of the 5, Renault wanted to expand its range with sporty versions. The first result of that thought was the Renault 5 Alpine from 1976. The sporty car was built using the regular layout, with the engine in the front. This hot hatch is not very well known, although it has been around much longer than the much-loved Volkswagen Golf GTI.

The 5 Alpine was nice, but Renault wanted more. An original 5 was submitted to Bertone for this purpose. The Italian automotive design studio had a lot of experience with small series production and also with rally cars. For example, the Fiat 131 Abarth Rally was signed by Bertone and of course the Lancia Stratos.

Very little was left of the regular 5 – a unique and highly innovative piece of automotive design – during the development of the 5 Turbo. Almost all sheet metal parts of the body were replaced, but the suspension, chassis and engine – and of course their position in the car – were also redesigned.

At Bertone, none other than Marcello Gandini was given the task of designing the 5 Turbo. Gandini drew a huge list of legendary cars, including the Alfa Romeo Montreal, the first generation BMW 5-series, the Citroën BX, the Fiat X1/9, the Lamborghini Countach and the Lancia Stratos.

Bertone built a mock-up of the Gandini design. This Renault 5 Turbo concept car was unveiled at the 1978 Paris Motor Show and stirred up quite a few emotions.

There was no room for a back seat in the Renault 5 Turbo. The technical set-up was devised by Renault’s head of product Jean Terramorsi. The block – which produced 160 hp in production trim, but could produce up to 350 hp depending on the version in rally trim – was mounted centrally at the rear. The design for the 5 Turbo from Gandini reflects this sporty technical DNA. The design features large, pronounced square wheel arches, with large rectangular air intakes for the front wheels.

Gandini left no doubt: this car was designed for competitive racing. This is further visible in the 5 Turbo through the air vents on the outside of the rear lights.

The remarkably powerful front fenders make the stance square like a bulldog. With a long series of interventions, Gandini turned the friendly 5 into an aggressive and capable-looking machine. The 5 Turbo became a true rally cannon, with its mid-engine, spoiler-clad body and rear-wheel drive.

The interior was not overlooked. An asymmetrical steering wheel was used there and very hard blue-red color contrasts.

The driver and his co-driver each have a distinctive sports seat with striking blocks that keep them in place at the height of their hips and shoulders, while sitting on lively upholstery patterns.

The later Renault 5 Turbo 2 was less extreme on the inside.

Twenty years later again with the Clio V6

The 5 Turbo was a completely absurd project: a regular production car in which the technology and aesthetics were completely overhauled at enormous costs. There are very few projects of this scale within the automotive industry. Ultimately, things rarely go well. Nevertheless, Renault thought it was a great plan to implement the same radical concept again twenty years after the 5 Turbo.

Now we have to wait for the next interpretation, which is again in the starting blocks twenty years later.