2022, RENAULT 5’S BIG YEAR

Renault 5 has been a legend since 1972.  A true symbol of pop culture, this mythical vehicle is the master of reinvention. 50 years later, Renault 5 is celebrating its anniversary with many innovative surprises.

story of the "supercar"

origins and creation
Renault 5 interior

ORIGINS

1970’s offspring
At the end of the 60s and at the beginning of the 70s, society was in full transition. Young people were bucking the trend. They wanted to be laid back, trendy, while advocating gender equality.  
An open-minded company, Renault was mindful of societal changes. It constructed a range based on emergence of the middle classes and developed a  versatile car, with a  unique  and  nonconformist design, for  women  and  young people.
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Renault 5 design

CREATION

the “fun and friendly” car
Project 122’s goal was to jazz up the small car segment. Building on 4L’s success, it was in the same price range and had the same design specification, but with a much nicer body. 
R5’s style stood out right from the very first stroke of the pencil during the design stage. Pierre Dreyfus, who usually focused on practicality, cleverly recognised that with its pretty rounded shape, the 122 was “fun and friendly ”.
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launch and advertising icon
Renault 5 launch

LAUNCH

“I am Renault 5,take me for a drive”
A huge launch operation took place in  January 19721,920  orange or apple green cars, decorated with eyes on their headlights and bubble stickers on their doors announcing: “ I am Renault 5, take me for a drive ”, were exhibited in dealerships. Parades were organised in France’s main cities where everyone got to test drive them.
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Renault 5 70 years

ADVERTISING ICON

the media’s “Supercar” superstar
Renault 5 became the “Supercar” based on an idea by Simone Guibert, Artistic Director at Publicis.The media jumped on the phenomenon and an unprecedented campaign began. Renault 5 was everywhere: on the radio, on TV, in the papers, along roads. Presented  as a person  rather than an object, the campaign’s originality made it appealing to the public. Instant success!
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female empowerment
the little protagonist of change
Home life conventions had completely changed.  Women went to work, they  were on the move, they now needed a small, versatile car. 
Renault 5 was perfect for this and once launched reached a third of women. Small, modular and roomy, it could easily accommodate four adults or a couple with children. In the back, the engineers designed a safe “place for the kids”. It had no opening doors and windows in the back. You could fit all your everyday belongings and leisure equipment in the boot.
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symbol of an era
“the car for everyone”
Renault 5’s success surpassed all expectations. Once launched, delivery took just a few months. This  breath of fresh air  was appealing to customers. The R5 was therefore the car for young people and those who remain young at heart, feeding bottles and flared jeans. 
Transgenerational, it was more than just small a car, it was “the car for everyone”. From entry level to sporty, the most stylish version, to automatic, and beyond, this car came in as many versions as there were customer categories. 
5.5 millions units  were produced between 1972 and 1985. Sold on all five continents, Renault 5 was not only the model of a brand, but the car of a decade!
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global success
a career on all 5 continents
It became a rapid success in Europe. When the Renault 5 was launched, it was in 2nd  place for sales in Europe, just behind the Fiat 127. As new versions emerged, it had no intention of stopping there, preparing to appeal to new users. 
In 1975, Renault 5 took pole position with its new Spanish “Siete” version. The following year, it became  the best-selling Renault abroad
In the past few years in particular, R5s sold abroad represented up to 60% of the overall production. In 1980, its 5-door version was the  2nd  most sold car worldwide!
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Renault 5 E-Tech electric prototype

more modern and electric than ever before
The Renault brand has entered a new era launching its own “New Wave”. Becoming a mark of technology, service and energy, it brings a breath of modernity to the European automobile industry. 
Renault 5 E-Tech electric Prototype  was introduced in January 2021. It demonstrates Renault’s desire to make the electric car more widespread in Europe, with a modern twist on the popular car. 
 
Renault 5 Prototype is a compact city car brimming with charm that propels one of Renault’s icons  into the future  with an  all-electric version .  It keeps its fun and cheeky side, with a very “pop” yellow body and its original, modern R5 design. The selected trim and materials are inspired by the universes of electronics, furniture and sport.