Renault 8 Gordini Concept Breaks Cover as 270PS Electric RWD Coupe

The Renault 8 Gordini Concept measures 4.12 metres long, 1.88 metres wide and 1.27 metres tall. It gets a low-slung two-door coupe body with a wide stance and prominent wheel arches. The concept rides on 19-inch wheels at the front and 20-inch wheels at the rear.

The front-end design features a V-shaped nose and six round headlights. The lighting arrangement takes inspiration from the rally version of the original Renault 8 Gordini. The concept also gets a wide and sculpted rear section, designed as a visual reference to the rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout of the original car.

Also Read: Next-Gen Tesla Roadster Global Debut on October 1; Will Elon Musk’s Claim of Fastest Accelerating Car in the World Stand?

The modern concept retains several design references to the 1964 Renault 8 Gordini, including its rectangular wheel arches, shell-shaped wing mirrors, recessed waistline and rear ventilation grille. The original Gordini lettering has also been reworked, while the new ‘8’ emblem features eight segments.

One of the most recognisable elements is the double white stripe. Renault has carried the stripe beyond the exterior bodywork, with the design continuing across the dashboard. The stripe also aligns with elements at the base of the windscreen and the rear lighting graphics.

The concept is finished in a shade inspired by Bleu de France, the colour associated with the original Renault 8 Gordini. Renault says the modern interpretation uses a three-layer construction combining mother-of-pearl with a blue-tinted binder.

Power comes from a 270 hp electric motor. The press release does not reveal the battery capacity, driving range, acceleration time or charging specifications. The original Renault 8 Gordini, launched in 1964, used a 95 hp rear-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive. Renault positioned the model as a performance-oriented version of the standard Renault 8, with the car also becoming a training ground for drivers, including Jean Ragnotti. The new concept retains the rear-wheel-drive configuration but replaces the combustion engine with an electric motor.

The cabin follows the same approach as the exterior, combining references to the original car with modern technology. The dashboard features a horizontal brushed-aluminium structure supporting a series of round digital displays. Their circular design mirrors the shape of the exterior headlights.

Also Read: Nissan Pixo EV Debuts with 259 Km Claimed Range; Will it Come to India?

The concept uses brushed aluminium across the controls and other interior surfaces, while Alcantara covers sections of the cabin. It also gets bucket seats with blue corduroy inserts. The door panels feature stitching inspired by the kerbs of a racetrack.

The instrument cluster comprises round digital displays positioned above the dashboard, while indirect ambient lighting runs underneath it. A centrally positioned stopwatch button features a red marking.