What's all this about?
Renault's had a fair amount of success in reviving some of its classic products as modern-day EVs, as you only have to witness the critical furore around the likes of the Twingo, 4 E-Tech and 5 E-Tech. Well, now it has revitalised the classic old 8 Gordini as this glorious modern-day concept car.
Can you tell me more about the spec of the newcomer?
The Renault 8 Gordini Concept measures 4.12m long, 1.88m wide and 1.27mm tall, and it sits on 19-inch front, 20-inch rear alloy wheels. Its magnificent styling is said to be inspired by both rally cars, in which of course the company has an enviable reputation, and café racers too. Highlights include the six lamps up front, plus a widened, raked tail that hints at a rear-mounted engine plus rear-wheel drive of the original model.
Not, of course, that there's an engine at the back of the concept like there was on the original 8 Gordini. Where that 1964 car had a 95hp 1.1-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in its rump, this new one is an EV packing a substantial 270hp, so it would be a lot quicker out on the roads.
Don't get your hopes up, though. There are no plans to put the 8 Gordini Concept into production; instead, it will become part of the manufacturer's history and heritage, and will take up a position alongside the firm's classic models, archive material and artworks that will be part of the Renault Collections museum in Flins, which is set to open to the public sometime at the start of 2028.
That's a shame. How about the cabin?
It's a retro-themed delight and you'll notice it isn't dominated by a hulking great touchscreen on the dash. A full-width fascia is studded with six round digital gauges, a direct callback to the headlights on the exterior of the 8 Gordini Concept. Most of the surfaces are finished in brushed aluminium rather than plastics, these metal panels complemented by luxurious Alcantara upholstery. Full buckets seats equipped with racing harnesses and an exquisitely deep-dished, minimalistic steering wheel complete the aesthetic.
Alexandre Malval, the vice-president of design for Renault, said: "With Renault 8 Gordini Concept, we wanted to spark emotion by drawing on both our heritage and modern times, bringing together the icons of yesterday and the future. This exercise in style sets out to reinvent Renault 8 Gordini for the modern day. The aim of this coupe is to inspire emotion and capture the imagination of all car enthusiasts. And when I talk about emotion, I'm not talking about nostalgia, but real passion for cars."
Matt Robinson - 24 Sep 2026
