The Renault R17 Restomod Is The Future We Were Promised
French carmaker Renault has had quite the run of eye-catching concept cars in recent years. There was the flying Renault 4 from 2021 and a wonderful R5 Turbo showcar that it unveiled in 2022. Now, the automaker has rolled out another stunning one-off creation, this time based on the Renault 17 from the 1970s.
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Called the R17, the latest creation from Renault was developed in collaboration with French designer Ora Ïto. It takes the boxy, ’70s styling of the Renault 17 and sharpens the angles, adds LED lights front and rear, and replaces the old engine with a 270 horsepower electric motor. Nice.
“Revisiting an iconic vehicle like Renault 17 was a particularly exciting challenge. Working alongside Renault, I was able to articulate my artistic vision to create a sculpture in my own image,” said Ïto in a statement shared by Renault.
One tail light is better than two. Image: Renault
And what an artistic vision it was, as the R17 looks awesome. It retains the same two-door coupe styling of the Renault 17, but the new version is almost seven inches wider to improve handling and give the car a more aggressive stance.
Up front, the rounded headlamps have been replaced by a set of rectangular modules with rounded corners and the tail lights are now a single light bar stretching across the rear of the car. Then, while the cabin, doors and windows remain the same as the old car, the entire concept has been finished in a new deep brown color that Renault calls galactic brown. Very Sci-Fi.
Old seats, new covers. Image: Renault
Inside, the car has also been brought into the future with new seats that have been designed around the car’s original structure but with new upholstery. There’s also an updated dashboard with a central screen with the same Renault interface you’ll find in its road cars. Behind the wheel, there are four further small screens to replicate the dials in the original Renault 17.
Under all those soft furnishings, the car is now built around a carbon fiber chassis to keep weight down. To power the R17, there’s an all-electric 270 hp powertrain at the rear.
“This project celebrates Renault’s original iconic design while giving it a contemporary twist with new features to create an experience that transcends the generations,” said Arnaud Belloni, chief branding officer and vice president for the Renault Brand, in a statement.
“At Renault, we are proud to collaborate with bold talented designers such as Ora Ïto, to reinvent our iconic models while remaining true to the spirit of the brand.”
Not just any brown, it’s Galactic Brown. Image: Renault
The car will now go on display in Paris until September 11, after which it will be transferred to Renaults stand at this year’s Paris Motor Show from October 14 to 20.
