Renault 17’s Electrifying Comeback: A Nostalgic 270 HP Concept Unveiled but Not for Production

Renault 17 Stages a Revival as an Electric Vehicle with 270 Horsepower

Unfortunately, the stylish Electromod is not expected to enter mass production

It's likely that only a handful of people recall the Renault 17. This sports car saw over 92,000 units produced from 1971 to 1979, but most succumbed to rust. Now, the French are turning heads with an attractive electric vehicle concept that pays homage to the classic Renault 17.

Renault is no stranger to retro designs, and they're fully embracing this trend in the electric vehicle market. Take for instance the 5 E-Tech Electric, or the upcoming 2026 Twingo, and the revamped version of the Renault 4. The production model of the R4, by the way, will be unveiled alongside the 17 concept at the Paris Motor Show in October 2024.

Photo Gallery: Renault R17 Electric Restomod by Ora Ïto

The creative mind behind the Neo-17 is designer Ora Ïto, who was tasked by Renault to produce a bold and contemporary version of this classic car. However, specifics are not provided, such as the dimensions. The original Renault 17 measured 4.26 meters in length, and the Electromod seems to be in that size range. Noteworthy are the narrow headlights, while the C-pillar with its distinctive grooves pays tribute to the iconic original model.

The Renault 15 and 17 models, which were in production from

It seems that the concept behind the "Renault 17 electric restomod x Ora Ïto" (its official title) is similar to what Opel did with the Manta GSe ElektroMOD. However, much like its counterpart, it's unlikely that the Renault will enter mass production: "It's a one-off model and isn't a precursor to any future production vehicles. The restomod, designed by Ora Ïto, was a collaborative effort with Renault's design team." At the very least, the concluding remark gives us some optimism that certain features may be adopted in future car designs.

The Renault 17 stood out as a sporty two-door hatchback coupe, characterized by its four circular headlights, frameless doors, a center pillar-less body, rear side windows that could be fully opened, and second-quarter windows accented with slats.

The R17 electric restomod created in collaboration with Ora Ïto is built upon the monocoque framework of the classic version and maintains identical cabin space, doors, windows, glasswork, seals, and flooring. In other words, similar to Opel's approach with the Manta, Renault appears to have repurposed an authentic vintage 17 model.

The vehicle's body has been expanded by 17 centimeters to enhance its stability on the road. Its fenders and wheels have been styled to give it a remarkable and sophisticated look. The headlights feature four rectangular units with soft edges, and the tail lights are designed as a continuous strip. At the rear, there's a potent 270 horsepower all-electric powertrain.

Renault R17 Electric Revamp Collaborates with Ora Ito

The carbon fiber frame, featuring sleek lines, keeps the weight down to "just" 1.4 tons. (The original R17 was 400 kilograms lighter…) The body color, dubbed Galactic Brown, is a unique shade created specifically for this concept vehicle.

The updated classic car model preserves the initial level of comfort but introduces several updates to the dashboard and center console. The seats have been redesigned around the original "petal" framework and have been reupholstered with new materials inspired by interior design trends: a mixed satin made of fine merino wool for the brown fabric, and a soft, airy, long, and dense wool bouclé for the beige fabric.

Exploring more of Renault's history:

The R17 electric restomod x Ora Ïto, as a contemporary vehicle, features a main display that showcases the latest Renault graphic interface and four small geometric screens positioned behind the steering wheel, which draw inspiration from the gauges of the original model.

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