Renault has revived considered one of its iconic Seventies sports activities automobiles with an electrical restomod idea, however the French model has no plans to convey it to market.
Primarily based on the 1971 Renault 17, the R17 is an electrical car (EV) constructed on the monocoque construction of the unique, however with a rear-mounted electrical powertrain and a reimagined physique that continues to be trustworthy to the traditional coupe.
The producer appointed French designer Ora Ïto for the venture, and whereas it’s 17cm wider than the unique for improved driving dynamics and more durable appears, it retains the 17’s cabin, doorways, home windows, seals, and underbody.
100s of recent automobile offers can be found by way of CarExpert proper now. Get the specialists in your facet and rating an incredible deal. Browse now.
“We stored probably the most distinctive design options of Renault 17, beginning with the entrance finish,” Mr Ïto mentioned.
“My purpose was so as to add model and movement, however with out altering the character of R17. You’ll be able to nonetheless see the unique Renault 17 and its sports activities coupe appears.”
The unique Renault 17 was a three-door hatchback coupe with 4 spherical headlights, frameless doorways, and louvres on the rear quarter home windows.
It had no B-pillar, and its rear facet home windows opened absolutely.
Considerably unusually, it was front-wheel drive however with a longitudinally mounted engine.
Greater than 92,000 examples had been constructed between 1971 and 1979.
Designed in collaboration between Mr Ïto and Renault’s in-house design workforce, the R17 options 4 rectangular headlights and a full-width rear mild bar.
Its rear-mounted electrical powertrain affords 201kW of energy, and its carbon-fibre chassis contributes to its mild 1.4-tonne kerb weight.
The R17 has additionally been painted in a bespoke Galactic Brown, developed solely for the present automobile.
As with the skin, the inside of the R17 has been designed to keep up themes of the Seventies.
It’s upholstered in a mixture of brown Merino wool and beige wool bouclé, whereas there are 4 geometric shows behind the steering wheel which take inspiration from the Renault 17’s gauge cluster.
There’s a display on the centre stack, which provides the looks of an old-school radio setup whereas nonetheless providing the “present Renault graphic atmosphere”.
“We teleported Renault 17 into the longer term, making a number of refined modifications that give it a complete new look,” Mr Ïto mentioned.
“Renault has a robust identification and I like that. You recognise a Renault whenever you see one, and this restomod isn’t any exception to the rule.”
Regardless of the trouble that has gone into reimagining the unique Renault 17, the model says the R17 is “a novel mannequin and never the forerunner for a future manufacturing car”.
That’s regardless of Renault reviving its traditional 4 and 5 as manufacturing electrical autos (EVs), full with retro styling.
-
Renault 17 -
The R17 is harking back to different in-house restomods from manufacturers like Hyundai, which has beforehand proven off reimagined variations of each the 1986 Grandeur and 1974 Pony Coupe idea.
Whereas these gained’t enter manufacturing, Hyundai’s retro N Imaginative and prescient 74 – first revealed in 2022 as a futuristic, hydrogen-powered tackle the unique Pony Coupe idea – is ready to enter manufacturing as a high-performance EV.
Opel additionally confirmed off an electrical restomod of its Manta rear-wheel drive sports activities coupe in 2021, known as the Manta GSe. It was reported Opel would revive the Manta nameplate for a glossy EV crossover someday this decade.
Click on the photographs for the total gallery
MORE: Hyundai celebrates heritage with rebuilt Giugario idea
MORE: Hyundai Grandeur Heritage Sequence – outdated traditional goes electrical
MORE: Hyundai’s supercar-scaring EV coupe is hitting manufacturing
MORE: Opel to go all-electric by 2028, Manta EV confirmed