Renault 8 Gordini concept reimagines French classic as an electric coupe

The Renault 8 Gordini concept has been unveiled ahead of its public debut at the 2026 Paris motor show, which takes place in the middle of October.

The concept has many hallmarks of the original, including six round headlights, a V-shaped bonnet crease, embossed shoulder line, rectangular wheel-arches, and a row of vent slats along the trailing edge of the boot lid.

According to Alexandre Malval, head of design for the Renault brand, the original was "virtually symmetrical from front to rear", but the company decided to switch things up for the concept "to give it a more dynamic look".

New elements, such as the raked rear-end, wheel-arch blisters, and having 20-inch wheels at the rear and 19-inch rims at the front, all serve to fulfil that mission. In addition to this, the concept is a two-door, two-seat coupe, while the original 8 was offered solely as a four-door sedan.

The concept is 4.12m long, 1.88m wide and 1.27m tall, which means it is 120mm longer and 390mm wider than the original, but, interestingly, has a roof that is 105mm closer to the ground.

Depending on its year of manufacture, the original 8 Gordini was powered by a 66kW 1.1-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or a 74kW 1.3-litre four-pot. Like other 8 models, the Gordini had a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. 

The modern incarnation is an EV with a 201kW motor, although it's not clear where it's located. Nor has Renault indicated how fast the concept is, the capacity of its battery, or what type of range it might have. 

Like the exterior, the interior is an upscale interpretation of the original 8, which was produced between 1962 and 1976. The concept's dashboard has a very ‘60s feel with a simple horizontal layout and a wide, flat band of brushed aluminium supporting six round dials, which house small screens instead of analog instruments.

In order to keep the focus "clearly on driving", there isn't a touchscreen infotainment system. The brushed aluminium centre console is another retro touch, and it contains an array of buttons, knobs and switches to control the air-conditioning, transmission and windows.

The seats feature corduroy trim, while the dashboard and doors have faux suede with stitching that mimics the look of a racetrack.

Speaking with Autocar Mr Malval insisted the vehicle unveiled today is "just a concept car" designed to "celebrate Gordini". When asked if public reaction could prompt a change in stance, he replied: "I know some people you can send emails to".

While the concept may not head into production, some elements of its design could end up in showroom vehicles, most notably the tail-lights that are behind the body work and disappear completely when they're not switched on.

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