Renault has revived one of its most recognisable performance names with the Renault 8 Gordini Concept, a compact electric coupé that reworks the character of the 1964 original for the modern era. The two-seat concept measures 4.12 metres long, 1.88 metres wide and just 1.27 metres high, giving it a low and unusually wide stance. It rides on 19-inch front wheels and 20-inch rears, while its rear-biased proportions are designed to recall the sporting character of the original Renault 8 Gordini.
There is one major mechanical difference. The original “la Gorde” used a 95hp rear-mounted petrol engine driving the rear wheels. The new concept switches to a 270hp electric motor, although Renault has not released battery capacity, performance figures, range, or weight.
That makes the 8 Gordini Concept an exercise in design and heritage rather than a preview of a confirmed production car. Renault describes it as an exploratory project and says it will become part of the collection being assembled for its future Renault Collections museum at Flins.
Visually, the concept takes the original car’s most recognisable details and pushes them into a much more aggressive shape. The squared-off wheel arches remain, while the familiar double white Gordini stripe has been incorporated into the car’s structure and continues into the cabin.
The front end features six round headlights, echoing the additional lamps fitted to the rally-oriented versions of the original. A full-width grille element sits at the base of the windscreen, while the rear treatment references the original’s ventilation grille and rear-engined layout despite the modern electric powertrain.
Renault says the design came entirely from its own design team. More than 300 sketches were submitted during an internal competition before two proposals were developed as 2:5-scale models and combined into the final concept.
Inside, the two-seat cabin follows a minimalist motorsport theme, with brushed aluminium, Alcantara and blue corduroy upholstery. Digital round displays sit above the dashboard, while a prominent stopwatch button reinforces the car’s focus on driving.
The Renault 8 Gordini Concept was unveiled at Renault Carwalk on 24 September and will be appearing on the Renault stand at the Paris Motor Show from 12 to 18 October 2026.
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