Renault 8 Gordini recreated as EV for 21st century

In 1957, when Renault wanted to have some models with greater emphasis on performance, it teamed up with Amedee Gordini, a tuner known as ‘The Wizard’ who could extract extra output directly from standard production engine blocks.

The original 1964 Renault 8 Gordini was a legendary example that preceded the GTI phenomenon by a decade. Now the French automaker is revisiting that heritage with the Renault 8 Gordini Concept.

The project forms part of a broader 5-year effort exploration of its 128-year history, following previous restomod concepts such as the R17 electric concept and the Renault 5 Diamant.

Electric coupe
The concept car is a 2-seater electric coupe that reinterprets the iconic ‘Gorde’ through a contemporary, motorsport-inspired lens. Rather than a direct retro-recreation, the concept adopts a low, wide stance with a cafe racer design approach. Non-essential trim and chrome pieces to focus on clean lines, integrated bodywork tension, and raw mechanical presence.

Measuring 4.12 metres long, 1.88 metres wide, and 1.27 metres tall, the concept car sits squarely on the road, riding on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels that give it compact proportions reminiscent of modern rally machines.

Under the sculpted carbonfibre bodywork sits a 270 hp electric powertrain driving the rear wheels, referencing the rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout that made the original 95 hp model a demanding ‘training car’ for generations of racing drivers.

Designed in-house
Unlike the R17 show car, which was developed in collaboration with external designer Ora Ïto, the Gordini Concept was designed entirely in-house by Renault Design.

The initiative began with an internal competition that generated over 300 proposals from brand designers, eventually being narrowed down to two 2:5 scale mock-ups before blending into a final blueprint.

Classic elements modernized
Key visual identifiers from the classic model have been modernized across the exterior. The aggressive V-shaped front end features a 6-headlight layout, with 3D round units set directly into the bodywork to create a unique lighting signature.

The signature Gordini double white stripe has been transformed from a surface decal into a structural component that aligns key elements, including the windscreen base vent and the rear light graphics, while passing through the bodywork into the passenger compartment.

Other subtle nods include squared-off wheel arches, shell-shaped wing mirrors, a reworked Gordini script featuring the original badge’s striations, a new segment-based ‘8’ emblem, and a 3-layer Bleu de France paint finish that utilizes a blue-tinted binder over mother-of-pearl for added depth.

Within the cabin, it’s clear that the layout prioritizes driving focus and minimizes potential distractions. The horizontal dashboard is constructed from a brushed aluminium strip that replaces traditional plastics and provides a mount for floating circular digital displays housed in thick bezels echoing the headlight design.

Blue corduroy bucket seats pay direct homage to the original upholstery, contrasted against black backrests and Alcantara door panels stitched to resemble racetrack kerbs. A red dot on the central stopwatch button serves as the primary visual focal point within the minimalist cockpit.

Paris Motorshow highlight
The concept car was recently previewed and will be the brand’s highlight at the 2026 Paris Motor Show next month. Following its exhibition run, the one-off design study will be permanently housed alongside historic vehicles, archives, and artwork at the future Renault Collections museum set to open to the public in the second half of 2027.

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