Connect with us
Renault R5 Turbo 3e Renault R5 Turbo 3e

News

Renault unveils the R5 Turbo 3E

Credit: Renault

Published

on

Renault has unveiled their Renault R5 Turbo 3E, hoping to bring a modern electric drivetrain and aggressive modern styling to an old platform.

The first thing the average American thinks of when you bring up French products is high class, luxury, and elegance, but the prototype Renault R5 Turbo 3E is the exact opposite. This drift missile isn’t a Louis Vuitton handbag; it’s a French rendition of a Subaru STI, complete with accompanying NFT, “video game inspired design,” and a paint design reminiscent of the doppler effect.

For those unfamiliar, the Renault R5 Turbo was Renault’s hot hatch they sold for decades. It not only competed with the likes of the Volkswagen GTI, Mini Cooper, and Fiat/Abarth products of its time, but it defined French performance hatchbacks (sorry, not sorry, Peugeot).

While the brand previously abandoned the vehicle and its tamer Renault 5 sibling, they are now looking to reintroduce it as an electric vehicle, one that they hope will be their “flagship model of the brand” and “[electrify] its history to better prepare its all-electric future in Europe by 2030.”

The concept vehicle has the chops to accompany its bold design. A dual motor system propels the vehicle’s rear wheels and is powered by a 42kWh battery, also placed in the rear between the motors. The motors make a cumulative 380 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, allowing the small hatchback to rocket from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 125mph.

Advertisement
-->

Besides these amazing specifications, the hatch defines itself with its countless camera mounts and aggressive aerodynamics. As if you hadn’t already noticed, the rear of the car is dominated by an enormous rear wing, complemented by side-mounted rear air ducts and an enormous rear diffuser. Up front is a similar story. A large front splitter and a trio of front air ducts mean that the car has the aerodynamics of a block of swiss cheese.

But this car is more than the sum of its parts. It is an indication of the future of Renault. The brand is aggressive with its 2030 complete electrification goal, and this strangely aggressive performance hatch shows they are serious about moving forward. Count me as excited for the upcoming Renault 5 production version.

What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!

Will is an auto enthusiast, a gear head, and an EV enthusiast above all. From racing, to industry data, to the most advanced EV tech on earth, he now covers it at Teslarati.

Advertisement
Comments

News

Tesla Robovan’s likely first real-world use teased by Boring Company President

As per the executive, the vehicle will be used to move large crowds through Las Vegas during major events. 

Published

on

Credit: Grok Imagine

The Boring Company President Steve Davis has shared the most likely first real-world use for Tesla’s Robovan.

As per the executive, the vehicle will be used to move large crowds through Las Vegas during major events. 

Tesla Robovan for high-demand events

During a feature with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Boring Company President Steve Davis stated that the Tesla Robovan will be used in Sin City once the Vegas Loop expands across the Strip and downtown and the fleet grows to about 1,200 Teslas. 

At that scale, Robovans would primarily be deployed during predictable surges, such as game days and large shows, when many riders are traveling to the same destination at the same time.

“The second you have four (passengers) and you have to start stopping, the best thing you can do is put your smallest vehicle in, which is a car. But if you know people are going to the stadium because of a game, you’ll know an hour before, two hours before, that a lot of people are going to a game or a Sphere show, if you are smart about it, that’s when you put a high occupancy vehicle in, that’s when you put the Robovan in,” Davis said.

Advertisement
-->
Credit: Tesla

Vegas Loop expansion

Steve Davis’s Robovan comment comes amid The Boring Company’s efforts to expand the Vegas Loop’s airport service. Phase 1 of rides to Harry Reid International Airport began last month, allowing passengers to travel from existing Loop stations such as Resorts World, Encore, Westgate, and the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Phase 2 will add a 2.2-mile dual-direction tunnel from Westgate to Paradise Road. That section is expected to open within months and will allow speeds of up to 60 mph on parts of the route, while expanding the fleet to around 160 vehicles.

Future phases are expected to extend tunnels closer to airport terminals and add multiple stations along University Center Drive. At this point, the system’s fleet is expected to grow close to 300 Teslas. The final phase, an underground airport station, was described by Davis as the system’s “holy grail.” This, however, has no definite timeframe as of yet. 

Continue Reading

News

Tesla seeks engineer to make its iOS Robotaxi app feel “magical”

It appears that Tesla is hard at work in ensuring that users of its Robotaxi service are provided with the best user experience possible.

Published

on

Credit: Grok Imagine

Tesla is hiring an iOS Engineer for its Robotaxi app team, with the job posting emphasizing the creation of polished experiences that make the service not just functional, but “magical.”

Needless to say, it appears that Tesla is hard at work in ensuring that users of its Robotaxi service are provided with the best user experience possible.

Robotaxi App features

As observed by Tesla community members, Tesla has gone live with a job listing for an iOS Engineer for its Robotaxi App. The job listing mentions the development of a “core mobile experience that enables customers to summon, track, and interact with a driverless vehicle. From requesting a ride to enabling frictionless entry, from trip planning to real-time vehicle status and media control.”

Interestingly enough, the job listing also mentioned the creation of polished experiences that make the Robotaxi more than just functional. “You will take full ownership of features—from architecture design to robust implementation—delivering delightful and polished experiences that make Robotaxi not just functional, but magical,” Tesla noted in its job listing.

Apple’s “magical” marketing

Tesla’s use of the word “magical” when referring to the Robotaxi app mirrors the marketing used by Apple for some of its key products. Apple typically uses the word when referring to products or solutions that transform complex technology into something that feels effortless, simple, and natural to daily life. Products such as the AirPods’ seamless pairing with the iPhone and FaceID’s complex yet simple-to-use security system have received Apple’s “magical” branding. 

Advertisement
-->

With this in mind, Tesla seems intent on developing a Robotaxi app that is sophisticated, but still very easy to use. Tesla already has extensive experience in this area, with the Tesla App consistently being hailed by users as one of the best in its segment. If Tesla succeeds in making the Robotaxi app worthy of its “magical” branding, then it wouldn’t be a surprise if the service sees rapid adoption even among mainstream consumers. 

Continue Reading

News

Tesla is coming to Estonia and Latvia in latest European expansion: report

Tesla seems to be accelerating its regional expansion following its recent launch in Lithuania.

Published

on

Credit: Grok Imagine

Recent reports have indicated that Tesla has taken a step toward entering the Baltic states by registering new subsidiaries in Latvia and Estonia.

Filings suggest that Tesla is accelerating its regional expansion following its recent launch in Lithuania, with service centers likely coming before full sales operations.

Official entities in Latvia and Estonia

Tesla has established two new legal entities, Tesla Latvia SIA and Tesla Estonia OÜ, both owned by Tesla International B.V., as noted in an EV Wire report. Corporate records show the Estonian entity was formed on December 16, 2025, while the Latvian subsidiary was registered earlier, on November 7.

Both entities list senior Tesla executives on their boards, including regional and finance leadership responsible for new market expansion across Europe. Importantly, the entities are registered under “repair and maintenance of motor vehicles,” rather than strictly vehicle sales. This suggests that Tesla service centers will likely be launched in both countries.

The move mirrors Tesla’s recent Baltic rollout strategy. When Tesla entered Lithuania, it first established a local entity, followed by a pop-up store within weeks and a permanent service center a few months later. It would then not be surprising if Tesla follows a similar strategy in Estonia and Latvia, and service and retail operations arrive in the first half of 2026.

Advertisement
-->

Tesla’s European push

Tesla saw a drop in sales in Europe in 2025, though the company is currently attempting to push more sales in the region by introducing its most affordable vehicles yet, the Model 3 Standard and the Model Y Standard. Both vehicles effectively lower the price of entry into the Tesla ecosystem, which may make them attractive to consumers.

Tesla is also hard at work in its efforts to get FSD approved for the region. In the fourth quarter of 2025, Tesla rolled out an FSD ride-along program in several European countries, allowing consumers to experience the capabilities of FSD firsthand. In early December, reports emerged indicating that the FSD ride-along program would be extended in several European territories until the end of March 2026. 

Continue Reading