The supermini’s 50th Anniversary is celebrated by restomod
The Renault 5 was introduced in 1972. More than 5 million units of the first-gen Renault 5 were sold by 1984, when the Mk2 was released. The 50th th anniversary of the Renault 5 hatchback has been marked by a partnership between the company with the diamond logo and Pierre Gonalons, a French designer, for a unique restomod project called “Diamant.” The EV is finished with a three-layer paint that contains golden pigments and a pink base. On top, there’s a frosted varnish. The Renault 5 Diamant’s headlights and taillights have gem-like faces. These wheels, which were adapted from the Alpine version, feature a sun in their center. You’ll see that the handles of the doors have been transformed into truncated globes. This is a common theme, as both the shift levers and the window winders have similar looks. These elements are covered with brass, gilded in pale gold and stainless. The recycled marble used to make the steering wheel and storage compartment is also recycled.
The restomod involved more than just removing oily bits to make way for an electric drivetrain. It also included putting three digital instrument dials that show speed, battery charge and time. The doors can also be opened using a fingerprint scanner. Renault 5 Diamant features a dedicated opening at the dashboard that can be used as a phone and also doubles as an infotainment system. The Diamant concept car will still be unique with horsehair fabric on its dashboard. However, an electric Renault 5 is now available for purchase. Production will begin in 2024, when the R5 modern-day EV will replace the ZOE. A smaller R4 is also being considered as the entry-level EV. Alpine has teased a hotter version for the larger hatchback. It is expected to hit the market around the middle-of-the decade with sportier styling, and perhaps a bigger electric punch.
