As thrillingly impressive as it is, Renault appears to have missed the mark with the riveting new 8 Gordini – not due to the fact it’s all-electric, but because there appear to be two chances of it ever rolling off the production line: Buckley’s and none.

The two-door EV is a modern interpretation of the Renault 8 Gordini launched in 1964, which became a French performance icon and rallying hero long before Renaultsport and Alpine became synonymous with the company’s hottest machinery.

Blue sports car with white racing stripes speeding along a rain-soaked track, headlights illuminated and motion blur suggesting high speed.
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The Gordini story began with racing driver and engineer Amédée Gordini, nicknamed “The Wizard” for his ability to extract serious performance from small engines. His ties to Renault began in the late 1950s and eventually spawned a series of road and competition cars.

Renault considered around 300 design proposals for this modern interpretation before settling on the finished concept, which reportedly took just two months to develop. 

There’s no mistaking the inspiration. The original’s V-shaped nose, four-headlight layout, boxy proportions and distinctive twin white stripes over brilliant blue paint have all been updated without being diluted.

But Renault didn’t simply modernise an old design. The four-door body of the 1960s car has been replaced by a more dramatic two-door sedan silhouette, complemented by heavily flared wheelarches, 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels and a diffuser that screams aggression.

Extra driving lights reference the R8 Gordini’s off-road triumphs, while an F1-style rain light is among several nods to Gordini’s motorsport history. At 4.12 metres long, she’s compact like a true rally car, although it is substantially wider and lower than its ancestor.

The minimalist interior is just as striking as the outside. Renault has resisted the temptation to fill the dashboard with giant screens, instead fitting simple circular instruments to a brushed-aluminium fascia.

Blue corduroy features across the lower dashboard and bucket seats, with Alcantara and leather used elsewhere. The centre-console switchgear is brushed aluminium, and the uncluttered look should be forwarded to some modern designers to serve as inspiration.

Blue concept sports car with four round headlights and white racing stripes in a white studio setting, three-quarter front view
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Technical details are scarce, although Renault has confirmed the 8 Gordini is electric, rear-wheel drive and produces 198kW. That represents an enormous jump over the original, which was also rear-wheel drive but mounted its 1.1-litre, four-cylinder, 71kW mill behind the cabin.

Renault hasn’t disclosed the battery capacity, performance figures or driving range. It also hasn’t confirmed whether the car shares its aluminium underpinnings with the wild Renault 5 Turbo 3E, which produces around 397kW.

There are no plans to put the new 8 Gordini into production. For now, it remains a one-off design exercise that will be displayed at the Paris Motor Show.

Turning it into reality would almost certainly make it an expensive proposition. The Renault 5 Turbo 3E costs roughly $270,000 before Australian taxes and charges, so fans would need exotic money if it ever does start rolling into showrooms.

Renault advanced design boss Romain Gauvin says concepts such as the Gordini allow the company to experiment while changing perceptions of what the French brand can be.Given the finished product, Renault might find plenty of people willing to encourage it to go one step further and actually build the thing.