Although its market shares are growing as encouragingly as the Mer de Glace in Chamonix, the brand has two of the biggest international stars of French automotive heritage in its attic. If a manufacturer had every reason to try the same gamble as Fiat with its 500, it was Citroën. But between procrastination, false good ideas, and snobbery (“We don’t need to exhume the 2CV or the DS to be a successful brand.” one of his managers already replied to me), Chevrons ended up letting Renault deprioritize them.

At the beginning of 2021, Renault unveiled a prototype of the futuristic R5, and everyone in the French car industry had to pinch themselves to believe it.

Moreover, doubts were allowed until the last minute. Will Renault really have the Koleos to produce a new R5 with the same shiny looks as the concept car that has been in showrooms for three years? Now we know that the answer is yes, and even five times yes. You can form your own idea on page 16, but our journalist, who has already managed to get acquainted with the production model, says that the diamond brand has spared no effort to make this city car one of the most stunning on the market.

This, of course, will not be enough to avoid the debate that comes back to the table every time a manufacturer shows off its former glories from formalin. On the one hand, detractors will argue that this is creative regression, a lack of inspiration disguised as respectability, arguing that the car of tomorrow must dare to cut ties in order to modernize. On the other hand, fans will applaud this version of the 2.0 R5 (which will finally be followed this year by the upcoming 4L), which has finally put some soul and passion back into the automotive sector that has been sorely lacking since its inception. For them, this R5 is much more than a simple time machine, but rather proof that you can embrace the future while embracing the past. Charm in the heart and intelligence in the head. A more pragmatic Renault is also likely to see these modernized but familiar lines as a catalyst to reassure and encourage those most reluctant to take the electrification step. And you then, what do you think?

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