Renault Confirms Plans for New Sub-£17,000 Electric City Car
Introduction
Renault has officially announced its plans for a new sub-£17,000 electric city car, codenamed ‘Legend’. This upcoming vehicle is expected to offer exceptional efficiency and will be a crucial addition to Renault’s expanded lineup of seven electric vehicles in Europe.
A Spiritual Successor to the Twingo
The new electric city car will serve as a spiritual successor to the popular Twingo model. Renault will unveil the Legend today (Wednesday) during the Capital Markets Day event for its Ampere spin-off firm. The company has hinted that the Legend might adopt a retro-inspired nameplate, following the footsteps of its predecessors such as the Megane, Scenic, 5, and 4 models.
Impressive Efficiency and Lower Emissions
Renault Group has provided some initial details about the Legend model. It describes the car as a “fit-for-purpose urban vehicle with no compromise.” The Legend is expected to achieve an impressive efficiency of 6.2mpkWh and offer 75% lower CO2 emissions over its lifecycle compared to the average European ICE car sold in 2023. The production of the Legend model might take place at Renault’s factory in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, filling the gap left by the aging Twingo.
Affordability and Price
The Legend will be priced at less than €20,000 (£17,000), making it an affordable option for consumers. Renault Group claims that the car will cost less than €100 (£87) per month. More details about the Legend, including its design and specifications, will be revealed during the Capital Markets Day event.
Ampere: A New Standalone Company
The Capital Markets Day event also marks the launch of Ampere, a new standalone company within Renault Group. Ampere will focus on designing, engineering, manufacturing, and marketing electric vehicles in Europe under the Renault brand. The company aims to achieve price parity between electric vehicles and combustion-engined vehicles, contributing to the mass adoption of electric cars.
Inspired by Japanese Kei Cars
Renault’s CEO, Luca de Meo, has expressed his admiration for Japanese kei cars and their impact on efficient and low-impact human mobility. These compact and affordable vehicles accounted for more than one-third of Japan’s new vehicle sales last year. De Meo believes that translating the concept of kei cars into the European market will contribute to the democratization of electric vehicle ownership.
Conclusion
Renault’s upcoming Legend electric city car aims to offer affordability, efficiency, and low emissions. With its retro-inspired nameplate and inspiration from Japanese kei cars, the Legend is set to make a significant impact in the European market. More details about the Legend will be unveiled during the Capital Markets Day event.
Additional reporting by Felix Page and Will Rimell