- Renault gives restomod treatment to 1970s R17
- Gets fully-electric 270 bhp powertrain
- Reinvented design inside and out
- It’s a show car - so you can’t lease one.
Renault has unveiled a retro-tastic new electric restomod show car based on the iconic Renault 17 sports coupé from the 1970s.
The stunning creation has been dreamed-up by acclaimed French designer Ora Ïto in conjunction with Renault's Design team.
They took the Renault 17 (above), fitted it with an all-electric 270 bhp powertrain that drives the rear wheels, and then put a thoroughly modern twist on things from the inside out.
There’s a carbon fibre chassis that keeps the weight down to just 1.4 tonnes while the ‘Galactic Brown’ body colour is an original shade developed specially for the show car.
There are more shades of brown in the cabin, too, with textiles like Merino wool and lightweight wool bouclé used throughout.
Ora Ïto says: “We kept the most distinctive design features of Renault 17, starting with the front end. My aim was to add style and flow, but without altering the character of R17. You can still see the original Renault 17 and its sports coupé looks. I wanted to add my own design codes, accentuating some of the characteristics with a futuristic touch to give them a more timeless look.”
The Renault 17 was available as either a coupe or convertible and, according to Renault, ‘perfectly reflected the spirit of the time, with its looks and performance’. More than 92,000 units were built between 1971 and 1979.
In the market for a modern electric Renault with classic lines? Try a Renault Megane E-Tech lease, with the hatchback having won a clutch of industry awards since being launched in 2022.
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