The first small Renault 5 saw the light of day 50 years ago. The small car was built until the mid-1990s, and Renault sold around nine million units. According to its own statements, the French manufacturer “reinvented” the car for its 50th birthday. The result is the Renault 5 Diamant, an electric show car with very special design elements.
From old to new
Designer Pierre Gonalons wanted to make the car “poppy”, as he says. The artisan used the “shapes and colors of his universe” without changing the original design of the R5 too much. He only made an exception for a handful of add-on parts.
For example, Gonalons removed the headlights from the front end and placed them, complete with diamond-cut glass, directly on the car – the same applies to the rear lights. The car received wide wheels from the R5 sports version, Renault 5 Alpine.
A pink base color and golden accents were chosen for the body, while the light colors are continued in the interior. The Renault 5 Diamant isn’t really analogue anymore either: there is space for a smartphone in the center console, the doors open with a fingerprint sensor and the three speedometers are digital, but based on the originals.
Auction planned, mass market left out
The selection of a few materials alone suggests why the Renault 5 Diamant is a one-off. The carpets in the car are made of mohair wool, the steering wheel and storage compartment are made of marble and carbon, the instrument panel is made of horsehair fabric. The car will be auctioned off in the autumn along with a digital copy.
It seems a bit strange that there is no information about the car despite the intention to sell it. Engine power, range – all unknown. Target price as well.
For the mass market, Renault also seems to be planning a kind of revival of the successful R5. As part of the IAA 2021, the manufacturer announced that it would bring a production version of the R5 as a small electric car in 2024. However, there is not much left of the charm of the seventies.
If you compare the two cars, the question has to be asked: why not just electrify the original R5 for the masses? A sporty Renault 5 GT Turbo with an electric motor in particular should be very popular very quickly – without any experiments.
Source: Stern
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