Britannia Car Leasing attended Renault’s Oxford Street showcase on 18 April to view the highly anticipated Renault 5 Turbo 3E, a striking electric reworking of one of the brand’s most iconic performance cars.
The visit took place at the Maison Renault experience on Oxford Street, where Renault is highlighting its electrified future while celebrating key moments from its past. Among the centrepieces on display is the Renault 5 Turbo 3E, a limited‑production model that blends retro design with modern electric technology.
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is not a mass‑market vehicle. Renault has confirmed that just 1,980 examples will be produced worldwide, making it one of the most exclusive cars the manufacturer has ever built. The number is a deliberate nod to history, referencing the original Renault 5 Turbo of the 1980s, first introduced in 1980 and renowned for its rally‑inspired performance and distinctive wide‑body styling.
That heritage is immediately clear in the Turbo 3E’s design. The bold arches, aggressive stance and squared‑off proportions recall the original R5 Turbo, while modern materials, aerodynamic detailing and a fully electric drivetrain bring the car firmly into the present day. It is intended as a celebration of Renault’s sporting past as much as a statement of future intent.
For Britannia Car Leasing, the Oxford Street visit offered an opportunity to see first‑hand how major manufacturers are using flagship models to showcase innovation and brand identity in the electric era. Limited‑edition vehicles like the Turbo 3E may never be common on UK roads, but they often influence the design language, technology and consumer perception of more accessible electric models that follow.
The Maison Renault space itself reflects that strategy. Rather than operating as a traditional showroom, it functions as an immersive brand environment, combining vehicles, digital displays and cultural references. The approach is aimed at engaging a broader audience, particularly in central London, where interest in electric vehicles continues to grow alongside tighter emissions regulations.
Although the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is unlikely to be offered through conventional leasing channels due to its exclusivity, its presence underscores a wider trend within the automotive industry. Manufacturers are increasingly drawing on heritage to generate excitement around electric cars, helping to overcome lingering scepticism by linking new technology to familiar and emotionally resonant models.
Electric vehicles now account for a growing share of new car registrations in the UK, and high‑profile concepts and limited runs play an important role in shaping public perception. By revisiting a car as recognisable as the R5 Turbo and reimagining it for the electric age, Renault is signalling that performance and character remain central to its future lineup.
Britannia Car Leasing’s attendance at the Oxford Street showcase reflects continuing interest in how these developments translate into real‑world mobility. While models like the Turbo 3E sit at the extreme end of the market, they often act as a preview of technologies, design cues and electric platforms that will influence mainstream vehicles in the years ahead.
As manufacturers continue to invest in electrification, showcases such as Maison Renault provide a glimpse of how the industry intends to balance innovation with heritage. The Renault 5 Turbo 3E stands as a clear example of that approach, limited to just 1,980 cars, inspired by the spirit of the original 1980s R5 Turbo, and designed to make a statement well beyond the showroom floor.
