The Renault 8 Gordini Is Back As A Gorgeous Rear-Wheel Drive EV

There’s no denying that Renault has been killing it with its designs lately. After the retrolicious Renault 5, adorable Twingo, and gorgeous R17 restomod, the French automaker is at it again with the brand-new Renault 8 Gordini concept.

Inspired by the 1960s original, the stunning two-door show car sits low to the ground and has a wide stance reminiscent of the rally cars from decades ago. Up front, the quirky central hood notch and no fewer than six round headlights make for an unforgettable face—just like the original.

Make no mistake, Renault didn’t take an old 8 Gordini and put some makeup on it. It’s a completely new car, built from the ground up on a modern all-electric platform, with chunky 19-inch wheels at the front and 20-inchers at the rear.

However, all the pieces of the original puzzle are still there, including the rear-mounted power source. But while the lovable and fun-to-drive 1960s Gordini had a 95-horsepower rear engine powering the rear wheels, its modern counterpart gets a much more potent 270 hp electric motor. Coupled with the instant torque that e-motors are known for, the 50-inch-tall, carbon fiber-bodied EV should be a hoot to drive.

Obviously, the electric concept doesn’t have four doors like the original, which also means the interior can accommodate just two people. That’s not exactly a deal-breaker, seeing how this is a one-off, but even if Renault somehow decided to put this squared-off retro EV into production, I’d wager it would have decent success.

A pillar-to-pillar brushed aluminum strip with six round dials makes up the dash, while another brushed aluminum slab accommodates the various control switches between the two seats. Renault says that it designed the concept’s interior to minimize distractions and let the driver focus on the driving. There’s even a stopwatch in the center of the dash.

Bucket seats are a must, with blue corduroy adorning the center and backrests, while Alcantara-trimmed door panels make for a race car-like atmosphere.

Renault doesn’t have plans to bring the 8 Gordini concept to production, but despite that, the French company made quite an effort to make it a reality. Over 300 sketches were submitted by the brand’s designers as part of an in-house competition, but only two made the cut and got 2:5 scale mock-ups. Then, the best features from each model were selected to make the finished product you see here.

The Renault 8 Gordini Concept debuts today at the Renault Carwalk and will take to the stage at the Paris Motor Show, which runs from 12 through 18 October.