News with a French Flavour

April 1st, 2024

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So what’s bubbling on the stove in France?  Here are some new French cars soon to be coming onto the market.  These models will definitely be sold in Europe, hopefully making their way south to roll onto our showroom floors.

Renault 5

The all-new Renault 5 is back!  This is a cool-as retro-inspired EV hatchback that has captured styling from the old Renault 5, embedding it into the new car’s design and detailing.  Though a throwback to the iconic Renault 5 of the 1970s–1980s, the new wee car packs plenty of clever technology under its skin.

The interior is fresh and inspiring, and its clever infotainment system is integrated with Google services.  The car’s two-step dashboard looks incredible, while the denim-like trim works nicely both as visual and tactile stimulation.  The seats are made from recycled plastic bottles, and there are plenty of bright colour schemes for the upholstery and interior.  You can even get a little wicker basket to sit in the passenger footwell for carrying your baguette!  All the controls are nicely wrapped around the driver, and the new Renault 5 gets a 10.0-inch infotainment screen and a 7.0-inch digital driver’s display.

This is a direct alternative to the MG 4 and BYD Dolphin, as it boasts two battery options and a range of up to 390 km. Like the old one, this is front-wheel-driven, and there are three levels of power output to choose from.  Entry-level cars have 71 kW, enabling it to run the 0–100 km/h dash in around 12 seconds. The 92-kW version performs the same sprint in 9.0 seconds.  And the top of the range 112-kW version sees the little hatchback making it in around 8 seconds.  There is even a suggestion that there will be a hot-hatch version of the new little Renault 5, known as the Alpine A290.  So, for those looking for sizzling acceleration, this will be worth the wait.

A choice of two battery packs is available for powering the Renault 5’s electric motor.  A 40-kWh pack is great for city commuting.  There is also a larger 52-kWh battery pack, which gives you a further range.  Both battery options will charge from 15% to 80% in around 30 minutes on a DC fast charger. 

The new Renault 5 EV Hatch goes on sale in France in September of this year, where it’ll cost around £22,000 in the UK.  Isn’t it great to see it back?

Peugeot 5008

After a seven-seater EV SUV?  There aren’t too many of these available; however, the new Peugeot 5008 boosts the options with its E version. 

With similar styling to the E-3008, the Peugeot E-5008 shares parts with that car.  Snazzy slim headlights are neatly hidden below the bonnet line, along with the car’s signature Peugeot three-claw LED DRLs. Side on, the Peugeot E-5008 is a boxy SUV, hinting towards the generous interior dimensions that are found inside. 

The new interior styling and infotainment technology is brilliant.  In fact, the Peugeot E-5008 has one of the most stylish and distinctive interiors we’ve seen in cars for a very long time.  So, if that hasn’t pricked your ears up, then I’m not sure what else will.  The multi-layered dash is wrapped in a groovy grey fabric, the major controls are angled towards the driver, and sitting proudly on top of the dashboard is a massive curved 21-inch screen that houses both the digital driver’s display and the infotainment system.  The latest generation of Peugeot’s i-Cockpit system is incorporated into the style and function of the new screen.

With all seven seats in place, you have 259 litres of boot space to put your shopping bags into.  A massive 748 litres of luggage space is available with the third row folded down.  The Peugeot E-5008 can be had with a 98-kWh battery that is paired to a 172-kW electric motor.  This is plenty of power with an equally impressive 650 km range.  Then there is the 157-kW motor available, with its 73-kWh battery pack and a slightly shorter travel range.  At the top of the tree sits a dual-motor Peugeot E-5008 model with close to 240 kW of power on tap.  Its 73-kWh battery is said to provide this model with a range of around 500 km.

The Peugeot 5008 is also available as a hybrid version. Its rather smooth 102-kW petrol engine is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and there’s an added electric motor to boost power and efficiency.

A plug-in hybrid joins the gang in 2025.  This will use a 112-kW petrol engine paired to a 90-kW electric motor. This combined power output is nice and strong, while also making this PHEV capable of covering 75 km on electric power alone.

Citroen e-C3

The new Citroen e-C3 has been revealed, and it is an affordable electric SUV boasting up to 315 km of range. 

The e-C3 is a funky wee vehicle that is said to be a very affordable buy.  It uses an 85-kW electric motor to power the front wheels, capable of propelling the car from 0 to 100 km/h in around 11–14 seconds, depending on the model.

The Citroen e-C3’s interior is comfortable, with some cool-looking fabric on the dash.  The two-spoke steering wheel has that funky bit of French flair we all love.  To keep the cost down, entry-level models have a mount for your phone instead of a touchscreen, which allows you to access satellite navigation, the radio, and music streaming in this way.  All other models have a 10.25-inch touchscreen with all the goodies, and all cars have a classy digital driver’s display.

When these models make it Down Under, we’ll give them a full write-up in our car reviews pages, so if you’re interested, come back later for more.