Renault has partnered with French designer Ora Ïto to create a restomod based on the R17 of 1971.
Back in its heyday the Renault 17 was available as a four-seater coupe or convertible, powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder motor driving the front wheels, but in this re-imagination it makes the switch to electric power and rear drive. A 270bhp e-PT motor provides almost three times the punch of the original, while a generous helping of carbon fibre keeps the weight down to 1,400kg.
Renault hasn’t revealed performance figures but it should comfortably out-sprint even the hottest Gordini version of the stylish Seventies coupe.
Ïto opted to stay fairly true to the original design, working in collaboration with Renault’s in-house designers. “With Sandeep (Bhambra) and Gilles (Vidal), we worked on a theme that was retro-futuristic, almost cinematic,” says Ïto. “I wanted to drape Renault 17 in a second skin, showcasing the design while giving it a more contemporary look in terms of flow, dynamics and rationality through my own approach to design and my own signature: simplexity. I wanted to simplify the more complex aspects.”
The restomod Renault is 170 mm wider than the donor car and sits lower on bigger, lightly-dished aero wheels. The lighting is updated with thin slit LED headlamps and a single rear light bar. The B pillar is gone, frameless doors are fitted, and louvres cover the rear quarter windows.
The cabin is re-trimmed in Merino wool and the console is reworked to incorporate a central screen, with four further digital displays making up the instrument panel.
The rebirth of the retro coupe as an EV follows similar showcars such as the Hyundai Pony and Opel Manta, but it also follows Renault’s own previous collaborations on the R4, R5 and Twingo. With a new 5 in showrooms soon we can but hope the 17 heralds a heavenly future for the Renault coupe as well.
I must be ancient. I have photos of a friend sitting in the original Renault 15 and 17 models taken in St. Malo when they were being launched. Probably just as well they aren’t putting this into production, the merino wool seats wouldn’t last very long. Yet another example of a car manufacturer losing it’s way with a car’s appearance having to fall back on an old design.