What if Renault brought the R8 Gordini back to life?

After the R5, the R4, the R17, and the Estafette, Renault might revisit its heritage with flair by relaunching a 100% electric R8 Gordini.

The Renault 8 Gordini embodies a certain golden age of French automotive history. The small blue race car with white stripes, launched in 1964, remains etched in memories as the quintessential popular sports model. The genius idea was to entrust a modest little sedan to the wizard Amédée Gordini, who transformed it into a true racing machine.

Equipped with a 1.1-liter engine producing 95 horsepower, later enhanced to a 1.3-liter engine reaching 110 horsepower in subsequent versions, the R8 Gordini offered exceptional performance for its time. With a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 13.7 seconds, it certainly wasn’t a speed record holder. But once unleashed, thanks to its lightweight of 850 kg, it could hold its own on the track against much more powerful sports cars and reach a top speed of 179 km/h—performance at a high level in the 1960s. Above all, its nimble handling and playful behavior made it a delight for driving enthusiasts. It served as a springboard for many talented drivers, notably through the Gordini Cup, an affordable and spectacular single-make competition.

Today, the R8 Gordini remains a symbol of passion and authenticity, celebrated in gatherings and museums. Its timeless silhouette and legendary aura continue to inspire, reminding us that by blending simplicity, ingenuity, and ambition, one can create a legend. But a legend can be reinvented as long as it is respected. The success of the electric Renault 5 results from a smart approach combining high technology with references to the original model, including the reuse of many stylistic markers.

So, let’s dream a little. We take the technical base of the Renault 5 and strip it down a bit to save weight. We could even remove some non-mandatory safety features since it only scores 4 stars in EuroNCAP tests, so why not take advantage of that! We choose the small 40 kWh battery because the car isn’t meant for straight-line speed but rather for winding roads. For the motor, of course, we indulge ourselves with the 150 hp unit. No need to go for the Alpine A290’s high-end engine; the recipe for the “Gord” is balanced power combined with minimal weight. As for the bodywork, the front of the R4 doesn’t require much work to evoke the R8’s front. The hardest part will be to achieve a three-box silhouette because imagining a hatchback R8 is unlikely.

Of course, we are sweet dreamers because an R8 Gordini wouldn’t make much sense, and mixing 1960s nostalgia with 21st-century technology can quickly create an unpalatable cocktail. But thinking about a lightweight, well-motorized small electric sedan without too much concern for range isn’t foolish. Who doesn’t dream of a sporty daily driver? There is still room for pleasure cars, as long as they keep up with the times.