Renault Creates R17, A Cool Retro Modern EV
Renault has been producing some stunning designs these past few years. The latest creation is a unique restomod show car that’s based on the venerable R17. Designed by the company’s designers in collaboration with Ora Ïto, a well-known designer in the field, it’s a modern interpretation of the old-school look. The idea was to take the suave silhouette and add a modern touch, to create an extremely futuristic design study.
The original Renault 17 had similar proportions and lines albeit slightly more dated. The angular edges and tastefully modern interior made it a very appealing car for its time. It had four round headlamps, frameless doors, absence of a central pillar, rear tailgate and second quarter windows with louvers.
It was available as either a 4-seater coupe or convertible. The car had a longitudinally mounted engine and front-wheel drive, which gave it more practical driving characteristics. Renault produced over 92,000 examples of the Renault 17 throughout its production life from 1971 to 1979.
Though it may not look like it, this car was based on the Renault 12. A humble four door sedan that featured decent looks with great practicality. It was well received in Europe for these and other reasons. And it helped spawn variants like Renault 15 and Renault 17.
The recreated R17 on the other hand combines the classic look of the original with a more condensed and simplified layout. Renault says it has the same cabin, doors, windows, glazing, seals, and underbody. However, the body is 17cm wider for better road holding abilities. The wings and disc-like rims add to the restomoded sense of beauty.
Instead of the round headlamps of the original, the R17 has four rectangular, low-profile headlights with rounded corners that sit flush with the entire front fascia. For the rear, the taillights from a long single strip that fits into the cascading louvers that make up the bumper panel. Renault also painted the body in Galactic brown, a colour that was especially made for the car.
The R17 has a carbon fiber chassis that is not only extremely strong but is also lightweight. As such, the car weighs just 1.4 tonnes, which is surprising for an EV. Renault has fitted the car with a 270bhp, electric powertrain at the rear, which is unconventional and a stark departure from the front engine, front-wheel drive layout of the original.
Inside, it features retro-styled seats that maintain the original “petal” structure. The upholstery is inspired by modern interior design and as such gets a heathered satin in fine Merino wool for the brown fabric and a lightweight wool bouclé that is both long and thick, for the beige fabric.
It has a square, minimalist steering wheel devoid of complicated switchgear and an instrument cluster that have been retrofitted with LCD panels, to elevate the original styling. The car is being presented at the Chantilly Arts & Elegant Richard Mille competition from 12 to 15 September, before being moved to the Renault stand at the Paris Motor Show from 14 to 20 October.
This R17 is a prototype that will be used by Renault to inspire and create future designs. It’s good to see the French automaker going back to its roots to draw inspiration for its future creations.
