ANGLO-FRENCH relations were at their peak back in the eighties. We lapped up the booze cruises; we loved Juliette Binoche and that waitress in 'Allo, 'Allo!; we sang "Je ne sais pas pourquoi" along with Kylie.
But best of all, the French gave us some cracking cars. We're thinking Peugeot 205 GTi, Citroen AX GT, Renault 11 Turbo and the Renault Espace. And then there was the original hot-hatch hooligan, the Renault 5 Turbo. One of the Group B rally gods, the 5 Turbo had loads of power in a car that weighed little more than your jacket.
To celebrate 50 years of the Supercing and 40 years of the rocket-heeled R5 Turbo 2, Renault created the spectacular Turbo 3E. It has classic Turbo 2 looks but remixed for today's world, plus two electric motors, a glitch-art paint job, GoPro cameras galore, and pink windows. It stunned the public at last autumn's Paris Motor Show, making it arguably the coolest concept car of 2022.
But whereas a lot of brands build a funky-looking shell and power it with a rudimentary motor to get it on to a show stand, Renault put some serious engineering into this one.
Because it actually works. As in, properly works. And we're here to drive it at the former home of the French GP, Magny-Cours.
Turbo 3E is a 380bhp, rear-drive electric drift machine that'll do fast-moving 360degree spins and donuts as elegantly as Torvill and Dean (there's another eighties reference for you), just with a bit more smoke. It's basically half show car, half stunt car and within 200 metres of driving it, you know you can push on.
It's a mega bit of kit: fast, darty, supersensitive to every input, and a lot of fun. The front wheels turn 50 degrees - but you'd only need that for slow manoeuvres in town; at speed, you turn in and steer it on the throttle. It's rapid off the line - as are all twin-motor EVs - but straight-line speed on a race track is not what this car is about.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 29, 2023-Ausgabe von Auto Express.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 29, 2023-Ausgabe von Auto Express.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
GR86 concept salutes Toyota rally heritage
TOYOTA has revealed a one-off concept at the 2024 Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas.
MINI COUNTRYMAN
Hey MINI, you're a smash hit with grown-ups and little ones alike
CITROEN C5 AIRCROSS
Hybrid technology isn't new, but it has been improved over the years, thankfully
BARGAIN HUNT
The new Dacia Duster and MC ZS are the UK's cheapest small SUVs. Which makes more sense in hybrid form?
WORLD OF VOLVO
We make a trip to Sweden to visit Volvo's new museum and experience centre in Gothenberg
Audi RS Q8
FIRST DRIVE We put updated flagship version of brand's range-topping SUV through its paces on road and track
BMW M135
FIRST DRIVE Hot hatch's facelift brings mechanical tweaks to help it keep up with refreshed competition snapping at its heels
Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer
FIRST DRIVE Large EV estate has the space that families and business drivers crave, but a big battery isn't always good news
Dacia Spring
FIRST UK DRIVE The UK's cheapest EV is made for life in the city, but how does it fare everywhere else? We get behind the wheel
All-new Renault Clio spotted for the first time
The 2025 supermini will be a hybrid-powered alternative to the just-launched all-electric R5