Renault Unveils 270 hp Electric Gordini 8 Concept — SkimNews
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- Renault unveiled the all-new Renault Gordini 8 concept EV, reviving the 1964 Renault 8 Gordini as an electric retro redo.
- The original 1964 Renault 8 Gordini packed a 95 hp four-cylinder engine mounted behind the rear axle and earned a reputation as a 'training car' for motorsport legends including French Rally Champion Jean Ragnotti.
- The new concept delivers 270 hp of electric power paired with modern suspension, 19-inch front wheels, and 20-inch rear wheels to keep it planted.
- Renault VP of Design Alexandre Malval said the updated styling keeps the original's near-symmetrical look while adding wider track, prominent wings, and flowing cabin lines — with larger rear wheels creating 'a visual sense of momentum' as a nod to the original's rear-engine layout.
- Renault's design team produced more than 300 sketches for the Gordini project before narrowing the field to two proposals, which were combined into what the company calls 'a new blueprint.'
- Color and materials designer Thomas Altet created a three-layer reimagined Bleu de France paint using mother-of-pearl and a blue-tinted binder, with the historic shade visible along body edges 'revealing in full the sculpted lines of the bodywork.'
- The interior carries rally-ready design details that Renault says underscore the concept's serious sporting intent.
Why it matters: The new concept's 270 hp output nearly triples the original's 95 hp, and Renault is leaning on motorsport heritage — rally-ready interior cues, a rear-biased stance echoing the rear-engine original, and bespoke craftsmanship (300+ sketches, a custom three-layer paint) — to position the Gordini 8 as a serious sporting halo rather than a mere nostalgia play.
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