The new Renault 5 is being developed to be the most fun small electric car to drive, according to company executives.
Its CMF-B-EV platform – which is also set to underpin the 2026 Renault 4 – includes a suite of technologies aimed at providing enjoyable handling.
Chief among these is a multi-link rear axle, claimed by Renault to be the only one used by a B-segment electric car. Multi-link suspension typically provides a better balance between ride and handling than the torsion beams used by the Renault Zoe. This is because it provides engineers with finer control over the two parameters separately from each other, minimising the compromises inherent to less complex non-independent suspension.
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Asked to clarify what cars the 5’s dynamics are being benchmarked against and how “fun” is being defined, Renault executives wouldn't comment on the competition. However, Jean-Sébastien Blazy, vice-president for vehicle performance, said: “The R5 will be totally comparable in terms of vehicle dynamics [with] the Mégane E-Tech.”
He also said: “Thanks to the rear axle, we had the opportunity to have this multi-link and to put a lot of understeering behaviour on the rear axle. It’s thanks to that you have a very good stability of the car, because safety is key for sure.
“But with this rear axle, you can have a very dynamic steering without compromise on safety. So, this is our secret in order to give our car very good agility [and] very good steering response and to ensure the stability of the car in extreme manoeuvres, like avoiding a kid or an event or on the road.”
Blazy also emphasised the role to be played by the platform’s all-new brakes, which are being developed to more smoothly blend the hydraulic and regenerative systems. “[Drivers] will not feel the recovery of energy in our future car through the brake pedal,” he said.
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Renault seem to be putting an inordinate amount of emphasis on its multi link rear suspension. As bol points out below, the BMW Mini has always had one, and from what I can gather it is expensive, weighty, consumes space and the ride is rubbish. In the not too distant past, the French used to get a great handling/ride compromise from much simpler and cheaper suspension systems. I still believe it is all down to the black art of tuning the spring and damper rates, not unnecessary complication.
On a more positive note, the 5 looks great in pictures, I can't wait to see one in the metal!
A few things
1. what segment is the Mini SE in then? That's got a multi link rear suspension.
2. they're trying to reduce weight, but are using a bunch of heavy modules and connectors designed for an ICE platform. Cost over weight and handling I guess.
3. It feels like this thing has been trailed for years and it's still not our for another two. Why so long?
Understeering behavious on the rear axle? Err, isn't this going to cause oversteer - and not increased stability? Whatever the outcome I would have thought that a multi-link set up was an expensive and possibly space consuming luxury on what is supposed to be a cheap and compact platform.