Renault Revives Classic 8 Gordini Nameplate as 266bhp RWD Electric Concept

Renault has unveiled a retro-inspired electric concept that revives the historic 8 Gordini nameplate as a rear-wheel-drive two-door coupe. Developed as a one-off design study, the vehicle translates the racing heritage of the 1964 classic into an all-electric format while retaining key mechanical proportions from its spiritual predecessor.

While the original Renault 8 Gordini was produced as a four-door sedan powered by rear-mounted internal combustion engines ranging from 93bhp to 1.1-litre and 1.3-litre configurations, the modern concept shifts entirely to battery-electric propulsion. Renault has not disclosed plans to bring the design study into commercial production, positioning the vehicle purely as an exercise in styling and heritage celebration.

The concept relies on a single electric motor mounted at the rear, delivering 266 horsepower to the rear wheels. This layout preserves the rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration that defined the driving dynamics of the original 1964 model, which originally produced 93bhp or lower outputs depending on the specific production year.

Despite detailing the motor placement and power output, Renault has withheld specifications regarding battery capacity, projected driving range, acceleration figures, and top speed. The manufacturer has also not announced timelines or testing phases for the powertrain architecture.

The two-seater coupe measures 4.12 metres in length, 1.88 metres in width, and 1.27 metres in height, making it significantly lower and wider than the original sedan. The stance is accentuated by staggered wheels, featuring 19-inch rims at the front and larger 20-inch units at the rear.

Classic design cues are reinterpreted across the bodywork, including traditional blue paint complemented by twin white stripes. The front fascia adopts six round headlights echoing the auxiliary lamps of competition versions of the original sedan, alongside shell-shaped mirrors, squared-off wheel arches, a V-shaped bonnet crest, and a simplified grille-less nose.

The interior follows a minimalist, driver-focused theme equipped with racing bucket seats and harnesses. The dashboard integrates round digital displays that mimic the circular instrument cluster of the vintage sedan, accompanied by a basic three-spoke steering wheel and a stopwatch-style control element.

Materials used throughout the cabin include brushed aluminium, Alcantara, and blue corduroy upholstery. The exterior twin white stripes extend into the interior layout, crossing the dashboard and transitioning into a blue finish to reinforce the motorsport connection.

According to Renault vice president of design Alexandre Malval, the project is intended to stir genuine passion among enthusiasts rather than serve as a nostalgia exercise. Renault is currently focusing its retro-electric strategy on production-bound models such as the reborn Renault 4 and Renault 5, leaving the 8 Gordini concept without an active assembly schedule.

The original Renault 8 Gordini served as a sporting competitor to the Mini and secured three victories at the Tour de Corse rally. Its engineering was led by former Formula 1 driver Amédée Gordini.

Historically, the Renault 8 Gordini acted as a training vehicle for multiple drivers, such as Jean Ragnotti, and predated the GTI era by making advanced performance more accessible.