Renault 5 E-Tech only undercuts the Zoe on price
The successor to the Zoe is technically better in every respect. Nevertheless, the electric car should be significantly cheaper, Renault promises.
Khodrocar - The Renault Zoe has been Europe's most popular and best-selling electric car for quite a while. Not entirely wrong: when it was launched in 2013, the small Stromer was affordable for the masses with a starting price of 21,700 euros, the design was pleasing and the space available for a five-door city car was quite acceptable. However, the range was a bit meager at the beginning - with storage capacities of the battery of 22 and 40 kWh you don't go on long-distance trips. Especially since no quick charging option was provided in phase 1.
A CCS connector didn't arrive until early 2020 in Phase 2, along with new motors, larger batteries - and a higher price. The latter has steadily increased since then. Currently, an 80 kW (106 hp) Renault Zoe E-Tech in the entry-level Evolution version is being asked for 36,840 euros, for the 100 kW (136 hp) top version Iconic 40,790 euros. And the CCS connection will then have to be paid for with an extra 1,100 euros.
No wonder that the Zoe has now been overtaken not only by the Fiat 500e (g+) (available from 30,990 euros) in European sales statistics, but also by the Dacia Spring (from 22,750 euros). In Germany, too, the once popular electric Renault has long since dropped out of the top 50.
Zoe gets a successor
But in the coming year, Renault will stop producing the Zoe - and will present the electric new edition of the legendary R5 as the successor model. Renault produced the last car of the type in Slovenia at the end of 1996. With a combustion engine, of course.
But inspired by the success of the Fiat 500 and the Mini Cooper in retro design, Renault boss Luca de Meo decided two years ago to revive two classics from the company's history as electric vehicles as part of his renaulution: the R5 and the station wagon R4. The Renault 5 E-Tech will come onto the market in 2024, and the R4, which has been mutated into an SUV, the following year.
New platform for the R5 revival
For this purpose, Renault – together with partner Nissan – has developed a new platform called CMF-B-EV, which is to be used exclusively by the planned electric cars in the B segment. In addition to the R5 and R4 also from the new Nissan Micra and a new compact model from Dacia.
The new platform consists of 70 percent parts of the well-known CMF-B platform, which is used for the Zoe, but also for the Renault Clio and Captur as well as the Nissan Juke. However, it has been optimized in essential parts in order to save weight and manufacturing costs and to improve the driving behavior of the new electric cars with a new multi-link rear axle: the Zoe likes to hop over poor road surfaces like a rabbit over a furrow.
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