FIRST DRIVE: Renault R5 Turbo 3E - 375hp Hot Hatch | Top Gear

It’s called the R5 Turbo 3E, and it’s a two-seat tribute to the Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2 of yesteryears. And unlike most concept cars that’ll turn heads and nothing else, this might just turn your stomach too because it’s designed for DRIFTING. Don’t be fooled by the all-electric powertrain: it’s rear-wheel drive courtesy of a motor on each of the back wheels, delivering a playful 375hp and 516lb ft. Renault reckons on 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 124mph, but stops short of predicting what range you’ll get from the 42kWh battery. Presumably, because you can’t get a WLTP rating when sideways… At 1.5 tonnes (520kg of that is battery cells) it’s a good deal heavier than the cars that inspired it, but a tubular chassis, protected flat base and FIA-approved roll cage should provide plenty of stiffness when engaging that impossible-to-miss handbrake. Which Top Gear Magazine’s Ollie Marriage wasn’t allowed to touch. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t drift it. Subscribe to Top Gear