Tag Archives: Renault

News

Renault Hits 100,000 Renault 5 E-Tech Electrics—A Retro Revival Gone Mass-Market

Fifteen months. That’s all it took for Renault’s Ampere ElectriCity plant in Douai to crank out 100,000 units of the reborn Renault 5 E-Tech electric, a milestone the company celebrated last week as the 100,000th car—a Techno trim with the popular 52-kWh battery—rolled off the line. Not bad for a model launched in late 2024 and already crowned 2025 European Car of the Year.

For Renault, this isn’t just a production tally. It’s confirmation that the brand’s electric reboot of the iconic R5 wasn’t just nostalgia bait—it was a shot aimed directly at the heart of Europe’s everyday EV market, and it landed.

ElectriCity: Six EVs, One Line, Zero Slack

Douai’s Ampere ElectriCity operation has been undergoing a full-scale metamorphosis, pivoting from legacy ICE production to a tightly integrated EV ecosystem. The numbers paint a picture of industrial ambition: six electric models built on a single line, including the Renault 5, Megane, Scenic, Alpine A290, Nissan Micra, and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. Roughly 900 vehicles exit the plant daily, with the 5 E-Tech accounting for about two-thirds of them.

To sustain this, the plant runs three shifts—morning, afternoon, and a newer night shift operating at half pace. That aggressive cadence, coupled with Renault’s choice to centralize EV production in its Hauts-de-France cluster, means most suppliers sit within 300 km and most customers within 1000 km.

The result? Efficiency with a “Made in France” seal—literally, as the R5 E-Tech also carries Origine France Garantie certification.

A Star Across Europe—and Beyond

The retro-cute electric hatch hasn’t merely sparked curiosity; it has dominated charts across Europe. It’s currently the top-selling electric B-segment car in Europe and sits second in Europe’s overall retail EV rankings across all segments. At home in France, it shot straight to number one at the start of the year, with similar wins in the UK (October), the Netherlands, and Spain.

Renault has begun pushing the R5 E-Tech beyond Europe’s borders as well. Turkey and Israel joined the roster recently, with Morocco added last month. More markets will follow in 2026.

What’s Next: Upgrades for 2026

Renault isn’t letting its mini EV hero stagnate. Beginning January 2026, the 5 E-Tech will receive a series of updates across the lineup:

  • One-Pedal Driving arrives on Techno and above, adding a stronger fourth level of regen capable of bringing the car to a full stop. It’s a small upgrade with big daily-driving impact, especially in Europe’s never-ending roundabouts.
  • Driver Attention Alert becomes available, using an interior camera to monitor fatigue or distraction.
  • Connectivity Boost: 2 GB/month of data is included for three years with most Mobilize Financial Services contracts—enough for typical app usage, 40 hours of music, or about 3 hours of video streaming.
  • Customization Options: “PoweR5” decals for rear wings and expanded availability of the “NumbeR5” graphics pack across lower trims.

With three motors, two batteries, five trims, and pricing from €24,990 (before incentives), Renault is clearly positioning the 5 to stay competitive as mainstream EV buyers demand more variety and more value.

The Big Picture

Renault’s gamble to revive a legend as an EV seems to be paying off. The new R5 isn’t just a fashionable throwback—it’s a volume mover built on an industrial ecosystem engineered for speed and sustainability. And if the first 100,000 units are any indication, the next chapter of Renault’s electric era is just getting warmed up.

Source: Renault

News

First Drive: The All-New Renault Clio VI — A Superpowered Reinvention of a French Icon

For more than three decades, the Renault Clio has been the brand’s bread-and-butter bestseller—a small hatch with big-car attitude. Since its debut in 1990, nearly 17 million Clios have found homes in 120 countries, making it the most successful French car of all time. Each generation reshaped Renault’s formula, but the mission stayed the same: build a city car with the refinement and tech of something larger.

Now comes Clio VI, and Renault isn’t shy about setting expectations sky-high. The company calls it a “superpowered” generation. After a day behind the wheel, it’s clear: this is the most ambitious Clio yet.

A Legacy That Keeps Evolving

The Clio nameplate has always punched above its weight. The original model gained fame for delivering “tout d’une grande”—all the qualities of a bigger car—in an affordable, compact package.

Every generation sharpened a different strength:

  • Clio I raised the small-car bar with big-car comfort and safety.
  • Clio II became a cocoon, emphasizing refinement and softness.
  • Clio III moved the B-segment needle on material quality and onboard tech.
  • Clio IV introduced the sensual, sculpted Renault design language of the 2010s.
  • Clio V pushed into the digital age with a cabin centered on a large vertical touchscreen and the successful E-Tech hybrid powertrain.

But Clio VI isn’t just another evolution—it’s a reset.

Design: A Baby Car With Serious Presence

Renault has stretched, widened, and toughened the Clio’s stance, giving it proportions normally reserved for the next class up. The styling is expressive and sharp, with a more assertive face and a rear end that looks ready to pounce. The visual message is clear: this isn’t just a B-segment hatch anymore.

Inside, the transformation is even more striking. The dashboard is dominated by twin V-shaped screens as part of the new OpenR Link system with Google built-in—a first for this segment. The interface is fast, intuitive, and familiar to anyone who uses Android services. Material quality takes a legitimate step toward premium territory, and the switchgear feels more substantial than ever.

Tech and Safety: Almost Overqualified

Renault claims the new Clio offers up to 29 advanced driver-assistance systems, blurring the line between mainstream and premium. Lane-centering, adaptive cruise, enhanced parking aids, and improved collision-avoidance systems all make the equipment list. In a segment where many competitors still feel basic, the Clio reads like a fully spec’d compact.

Powertrains: Efficiently Punching Up

The big headline is the new top-tier E-Tech hybrid with 160 horsepower. It’s smoother, punchier, and more economical than the previous 145-hp system. Renault says it can reduce fuel consumption by up to 40% versus a traditional petrol engine—and stay in EV mode for up to 80% of city driving.

On the road, it feels eager, with strong electric assist out of corners and a refined handoff between motors. It’s not a hot hatch, but it delivers confident pace with the kind of efficiency that makes hybrids make sense.

Below it sits a new 115-hp petrol engine, offered with a manual gearbox or a lightning-quick EDC automatic. For budget-focused buyers, a 120-hp petrol-LPG flex-fuel variant is due in 2026, showing Renault’s continued attention to cost-effective energy options in emerging markets.

Driving Impressions: Mature Without Losing Its Spark

Renault’s goal was to give the Clio the manners of a larger car without sacrificing agility. Mission accomplished. The steering is crisp, the chassis feels planted, and road noise is noticeably reduced. Even on rougher pavement, the suspension isolates bumps better than many rivals. It’s still compact and easy to place in the city, but on the highway the Clio feels—dare we say—grown up.

Bruno Vanel, Renault’s VP of Product Performance, put it best: “New Clio combines the compact dimensions of a B-segment car with the performance, technology and comfort of a model further up the market… elle a tout d’une grande!”

After driving it, it’s hard to disagree.

The Most Complete Clio Ever

Renault didn’t just refine the Clio—it re-imagined it.
The sixth-generation model is bigger, more premium, more efficient, more connected, and more confident in every respect.

In a segment under pressure from crossovers and budget EVs, the new Clio VI proves there’s still plenty of room for a sophisticated, well-built, fun-to-drive hatchback.

If the previous Clio was the segment benchmark, this one aims for class domination.

Superpowered?
Yeah—this time, the marketing might be right.

Source: Renault

News

Renault’s Retro-Cool 4 Is Practically a Steal Right Now

Renault’s newest slice of retro futurism—the reborn Renault 4—has been quietly cruising under the radar. But not anymore. Thanks to a sudden plunge in lease prices, the 4 has become one of the most compelling EV deals in the UK, undercutting expectations and even brushing up against its smaller, less practical sibling, the Renault 5.

A new offer through Leasing Options, via the Auto Express Buy A Car service, lets you slide into the 4’s squared-off driver’s seat for a shockingly low £186.85 per month. This is a three-year lease with an initial payment of £2,592.19, paired with a modest 5,000-mile annual limit. Need more road time? Bumping it to 8,000 miles only adds £15 a month, which feels almost symbolic in today’s EV market.

More Battery, More Range, Almost the Same Price

Here’s what makes this deal pop: the Renault 4, with its bigger 52-kWh battery, is only £2 more per month than a Renault 5 lease. That’s barely the price of a half-decent coffee for 55 extra miles of claimed range. On paper, Renault says the 4 will do 247 miles on a charge. Real-world? Expect something closer to 220 miles, which is plenty respectable for an urban-friendly EV with a taste for the occasional road trip.

The 4 also charges at up to 100 kW, allowing a 15–80 percent top-up in roughly half an hour—quick enough to refuel while grabbing lunch.

Base Trim, But Far From Basic

The trim in question is the entry-level Evolution, though you might not guess that from the equipment list. Renault clearly wanted this one to make a statement. Standard kit includes:

  • 18-inch diamond-cut alloys
  • A crisp 10-inch touchscreen
  • Google’s smooth, intuitive in-car operating system
  • A handsome coat of Carmin Red metallic paint

It’s a spec sheet that reads more premium than budget lease special.

The Practicality Advantage

Beyond power and price, the main reason to pick the 4 over the 5 is space—glorious, useful, everyday space. The 5’s biggest flaw is its tight rear quarters. The 4 fixes that with a more upright, boxy profile that translates into better headroom, more knee room, and an altogether more adult-friendly back seat. The oversized tailgate also makes loading awkward cargo pleasantly effortless.

A Deal Worth Catching While It Lasts

Auto Express curates these offers from dealers and leasing companies across the UK, and like all good deals, this one won’t last forever. Availability is limited, prices fluctuate, and terms apply. If the offer disappears, Renault 4 leases remain plentiful—and still highly competitive—on their dedicated Renault 4 deals page.

For now, though, this might be one of the savviest EV leasing plays on the market:
more range, more space, more personality—yet barely more money.