The electric, retro Renault 5 concept unveiled in 2021 will spawn a production model in 2024. Development work is ongoing, and the French company released details on the platform it co-developed with sister company Nissan to support the hatchback.
Called the CMF-B EV, the architecture is an evolution of the CMF-B platform that currently underpins several series-produced models, including the Clio (one of Europe’s best-selling cars) and the second-generation Juke sold to numerous foreigners markets Keeping costs under control was a top priority for the design team, so around 70% of the components are shared between the two platforms. In turn, this should make the CMF-B EV platform roughly 30% cheaper to build than the architecture currently underpinning the Zoe electric hatchback.
Renault emphasizes that the platform is modular. Wheelbase and track are among the parameters that can be changed, so Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi will be able to build various body styles on it. It is being designed with a multi-link rear axle, which is an unusual configuration in this segment of the European market, and Renault is working on developing a more compact electric motor.
It is too early to provide technical specifications, so we will have to be patient to find out the power and autonomy of the 5. In terms of design, we do not expect significant changes; It’s very likely that Renault will tone down the more futuristic styling aspects that characterize the 5 concept, including the headlights, but the general proportions and references to previous models should continue without major updates.
Renault has built the first nine prototypes and its engineers have started testing them around the world. This is quite common in the automotive industry: cold weather tests are being carried out in Arvidsjaur, a town just south of the Arctic Circle in Sweden, while other tests are carried out on private test tracks far from prying eyes Development work will continue in the coming months, and the production version of the 5 is scheduled to make its debut in 2024. There is no indication that the hatchback will be sold in the United States; Renault exited our market in 1987, but it’s not too much of a stretch to speculate that the CMF-B EV platform could underpin a Nissan model later in the 2020s.
