New Renault 8 Gordini concept is the retro sports car of your dreams
Renault’s new retro-futuristic concept revives a nearly division, which predates both Renaultsport and Alpine.
Racing driver Amédée Gordini was renowned for coaxing immense power out of modest engines, a talent that earned him the moniker ‘the wizard’. He began crafting tuned iterations of Renault vehicles in the late 1950s, while Renault-Gordini machines eventually competed in Formula 1 and at Le Mans.
A series of legendary models followed, including the Renault 5 Gordini sold in the UK during the eighties, but the most iconic remains the 1964 Renault 8 Gordini—a French performance staple and rally hero.
Renault developed this tribute as a way to highlight its rich heritage, while simultaneously demonstrating that the brand can be just as playful as its more serious, focused sibling, Alpine.
What does the Renault 8 Gordini <a t feel that you need a special licence or training to drive this car. You just want to have fun with it”
The French classic’s V-shaped nose, quad-headlight setup, upright boxy profile, and the signature double white stripes over ‘Bleu de France’ paint have all been retained. The same applies to the squared-off wheel arches and the recessed side embossing, which now integrates an air vent.
Because this is not a restomod, the small team of designers started from scratch, abandoning the original’s four-door layout in favor of a sportier two-door sedan configuration. The concept’s classic three-box shape draws comparisons to the Lancia Ful
The creators of the new R8 Gordini wanted to embrace what Gauvin described as “grande folie”, or ‘big craziness’ in English; for a wild vehicle like this, a two-door design felt significantly more appropriate.
Measuring just 4.12 meters in length, the concept is notably shorter than a BMW 2 Series. While it is similar in length to the car that inspired it, the new model is substantially wider and sits much lower to the ground.
The designers also equipped the reborn R8 Gordini with prominent flared wheel arches, a staggered set of 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, a raked profile, and a massive, deep diffuser. The additional spotlights pay tribute to the original’s rally pedigree, while the F1-style rain light serves as a nod to Gordini’s motorsport history—one of many hidden details included in the design.
Gauvin noted that perfecting the rear of the new R8 Gordini was a challenge, as the team drew little inspiration from the original for that section. For those wondering, the tail-lights are positioned beneath a layer of laser-etched, painted plexiglass, rendering them invisible when the vehicle is powered down and making them appear as if they are projected onto the bodywork when in use.
What does the Renault 8 Gordini look like inside?
The R8 Gordini’s minimalist, cafe racer-inspired cabin is arguably even more striking than its exterior, resembling an installation in a modern-art gallery. There are no distracting touchscreens; instead, simple round dials mirror the headlight design, set against a dashboard crafted from brushed aluminum. The red needle on the stopwatch is one of the few details that stands out.
“The entire interior and instrument cluster sit beneath a fluid, wraparound beltline, creating a sense of purity and providing the driver with a perfectly unobstructed field of vision,” says Stéphane Maiore, Renault’s interior design director.
The elegant space is free of cheap plastics or tacky carbon fiber, utilizing high-quality materials like blue corduroy on the lower dashboard and bucket seats. Alcantara and leather are used throughout, including on the three-spoke steering wheel, while the center console switchgear is also fashioned from brushed aluminum.
While the design and interior have been meticulously executed, the technical specifications remain somewhat vague. We know the new Renault 8 Gordini is fully electric, delivering 266bhp to the rear wheels. The 1964 original was also rear-wheel drive and featured a rear-mounted 1.1-litre four-cylinder engine producing roughly 95bhp.
Details regarding the battery capacity or other technical specifics remain unknown. It is assumed the car utilizes the same all-aluminum architecture developed by Alpine that underpins the 533bhp Renault 5 Turbo 3E drift machine, though this has not been officially confirmed.
Will Renault make a production version?
The only drawback to this impressive, retro-futuristic project is that it is a one-off concept not intended for mass production, and Renault currently has no plans to build a road-legal version. However, that could change if there is sufficient public demand—or if attendees at next month’s Paris Motor Show, where the car will be exhibited, express strong interest.
Given the level of craftsmanship involved, a production Renault 8 Gordini would be extremely expensive, likely exceeding the £135,000-plus price tag of the Renault 5 Turbo 3E.
Nevertheless, the French manufacturer has already demonstrated the appeal of its exclusive super hatch and understands what customers are willing to spend, so a production run is not entirely out of the question.
“Concept cars are extremely useful for a company like us, to be an idea incubator. This is how a lot of ideas come to life,” said Gauvin. “In this case, we are also using concept cars to build brand equity again, so that people don’t just associate Renault with normal, affordable cars.
“It’s very important for us to widen the notion of ‘what is Renault?’ and ‘what does Renault stand for?’. This is why we do projects like this one, like Turbo 3E, because we like to keep people entertained and also they never quite know what to expect from us.”
While a new Renault 8 Gordini remains a dream for the time being, the similarly retro-inspired model continues to capture the imagination.
