Renault resurrects the R17. Was it really necessary?

Bringing an iconic model out of mothballs and updating it is an unbeatable strategy. But why choose the Renault 17?

Based on the Renault 15, the R17 is a two-door sporty coupe with a hatchback launched in 1971. Well, “sporty” might be a bit of an exaggeration since, with engines derived from the bourgeois Renault 16, it’s not exactly a fire-breathing machine despite the addition of fuel injection. Let’s say it’s rather an affordable and dynamic GT, despite a prohibitive roll and gearboxes with desperately slow shifts. Suffice it to say that the car was not really a success in its time compared to the R5, and the 17 exited the scene in deep anonymity in 1977 after a short career of 6 years.

In fact, this car is better known for having inspired a true icon, the Renault Fuego! For this reason, and for its immediately recognizable light signature with two headlights, the R17 has kept a special place in the hearts of diamond fans. Does it deserve to make a comeback 47 years after its disappearance? Asking the question is often answering it.

Too modern classic or too classic modern?

Pursuing an artistic approach initiated in 2021 with several renowned designers, Renault has decided to enlist the creative Ora Ïto, son of the famous jeweler Pascal Morabito, to reinvent the aesthetic of the Renault 17. Ora Ïto—you either love it or hate it, but you can’t remain indifferent to his creations. This is the case with this R17 electric restomod x Ora Ïto. As a side note, the designer was born in 1977, the year the R17 disappeared.

Honestly, all the stylistic markers of the era are very faithfully reproduced, making the lineage immediately identifiable. The exercise in style is undoubtedly a success, but this ultra-classic aspect is ultimately quite disturbing. Why recreate something that didn’t truly leave its mark on its time? Why not try to project this car into the future instead?

We will wait a few weeks to reflect on it, and we will form an opinion on this revisited R17 at the Paris Motor Show where it will be displayed at the Renault stand. One last question… Why not choose the Fuego???

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