Renault 17 electric restomod by Ora Ïto is possibly the coolest thing you'll see today
Coolest thing... let alone car
If there’s a carmaker on a roll design-wise right now, it’s Renault. The forthcoming electric R5 stole the show at Goodwood Festival of Speed’s Electric Avenue in July, and the Concept 4ver Trophy E-Tech is a badass hint at what the new Renault 4 will look like. But arguably nothing the French company has shown off recently is as cool as what you can see here: the R17 electric restomod x Ora Ïto concept.
The fourth — and easily best — in a series of collaborations with contemporary designers, Ïto’s stealthy take on the R17 electric restomod is coated in an intimidating shade called Galactic Brown, developed especially for the show car.
Underneath, it’s based on the same monocoque structure as the original R17 four-seat coupé of 1971, and has the same doors, windows, glazing, seals and underbody. However, the chassis is carbon fibre to reduce weight and the body is 17cm wider, which would provide improved cornering.
The design of the wings and wheels have been brought bang up to date, as have the headlights, which are now four rectangular modules with rounded corners, while the rear lights form a single strip.
And, bringing it further into the modern age, the R17 electric restomod x Ora Ïto is powered by an electric motor, which sends 270bhp to the rear wheels.
Inside, the dashboard and centre console have been updated, too, with a central screen featuring the current Renault operating system, as well as four small geometric screens behind the steering wheel, inspired by the dials of the original model.
Meanwhile the seats have been redesigned around the original “petal” structure, with new upholstery inspired by the world of interior design. Ïto used heathered satin in fine Merino wool for the brown fabric and a delicate lightweight wool bouclé for the beige fabric.
“We kept the most distinctive design features of Renault 17,” said Ora Ïto. “My aim was to add style and flow, but without altering the character of R17. You can still see the original Renault 17 and its sports coupé looks. I wanted to add my own design codes, accentuating some of the characteristics with a futuristic touch to give them a more timeless look. This is what I did with the wheels, for example. My signature is also visible inside the car.
“We teleported Renault 17 into the future, making a few subtle changes that give it a whole new look. Our key phrase was: ‘a detail is not a detail’. There is a certain ambivalence in that it is not intended to be taken entirely at face value. We were also aiming for a light-hearted touch. Renault has a strong identity and I like that. You recognise a Renault when you see one, and this restomod is no exception to the rule.”
Sadly, this is just a design collaboration and a concept car, and Renault has no plans to bring it to production. But if you like the look of it, visit Maison5 (Paris) where it is on show until 11 September, or the Chantilly Arts & Elegant Richard Mille competition from September 12-15. It will then also be displayed on the Renault stand at the Paris Motor Show from October 14-20.
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- If you enjoyed this article about the R17 electric restomod x Ora Ïto concept, you might like to check out this review of the AMR Mustang ePower review, restomod Pony car powered by volts rather than a V8
- Also take a look at our review of the Renault Scenic 2024
- And don’t miss this 1980s BMW M3 restomod with nearly 400bhp
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