Renault's sleek coupé makes a timely comeback
Sleek coupé looks and a distinctly 1970s vibe mark out the latest restomod that’s caught our attention. Silhouette familiar? It’s a take on Renault’s elegant 17 two-door introduced in 1971. That original was the product of a full-fat fossil-fuel era, but, as you’d perhaps expect, this smooth restomod, designed in conjunction with happening young French designer Ora Ïto, is all-electric. Meet the R17 Restomod x Ora Ïto by Renault – we’re fans already, and that’s without looking inside.
A word of history, if you’ll forgive us, first. The original 17’s elegance concealed prosaic underpinnings: those of Renault’s big-selling 12 compact saloon. It’s fair to say that the 1.6-litre engine didn’t quite match the promise of near-exotic looks. Like so many coupés of its era, the style was the main draw.
That style, in this case, comes courtesy Ora Ïto, a French designer who describes his approach as “simplexity” – a way of combining simplicity and complexity. Lines are super-simple, certainly, with clean look punctuated by louvres to rear quarter windows, echoing those that were so much a part of the original 17’s look. Exterior colourway doesn’t shy away from the 1970s, in a unique shade Renault are calling Galactic Brown. As Ïto puts it, “We have teleported Renault 17 into the future while respecting its most distinctive elements.” Construction is the complex bit of simplexity: carbon fibre, still a gleam in Formula One’s eye in the 1970s.
So let’s open a door to an interior that further embraces the era of the original. The influence is 1970s meets mid century modern – an excellent thing in our books – in browns and beiges. Instruments are in four individual binnacles, while seating has biscuit-coloured fabric facings creating an overall ambience we’ll let Renault describe: "the use of shapes and materials draws passengers into the world of comfortable furniture and interior design”. We like, obviously.
To that electric power, then. Original Renault 17 was front wheel drive. Its hip-to-the-zeitgeist successor has a 270 bhp electric motor at the rear axle, promising rear wheel drive handling and - given weight would be around a ton and a half, or about that of the speedy Lotus Emira - potentially potent performance. Beyond the style talk, this is a coupé with serious intent.
Want one? Renault are saying the R17 Restomod x Ora Ïto is just a show concept, for now. That said, the company's current or planned production all-electric 4, 5 and Twingo models began as ambitious concepts. There’s been no Renault coupé since the Laguna’s demise ten years ago, so perhaps the time is right.
A test drive of the production model somewhere nice and warm like the south of France? We’d be happy to grace the occasion with our presence. If the new R17 is built, expect a sub-£50,000 price tag - not to mention the looks of admiration as you cruise down your local seaside boulevard.
Check out more restomod action here.
