Renault May Bring Back the 5

Just about every European carmaker is getting into the premium supermini game. MINI started it all some 10 years ago, but Fiat is snapping at its heals with the 500, while Lancia has just launched the Ypsilon. Audi entered the fray with the A1 and Citroen has the DS3. Most of these cars take their styling cues from a classic predecessor, so Renault might claim its share of the market with the 5 (marketed as Le Car in the US).

According to Inside Lane, the French carmaker is currently considering the possibility of creating a premium supermini inspired by the 1972 model. Despite all the competition from all the other European manufacturer, Renault execs believe there is room in the range, next to the next-generation Twingo city and fourth-generation Clio, which is itself a descendant of the original Renault 5.

The Renault 5 was the first supermini with a three-door hatchback configuration, which made it a European best-seller for most of the 1970s. It was marketed in the US starting 1976 under the ‘Le Car’ badge as an alternative to the Honda Civic and VW Rabbit.

The main problem faced by Renault is the balance between retro feel and modern looks. The company is currently undergoing a period of reinvention under styling chief Laurens van den Acker, who is creating forward-looking and imaginative designs. At the same time, it’s hard to ignore the market success of retro models like the MINI and the Cinquecento.

We can expect to see the rectangular headlights, slender grille and crease in its flanks to make a return on the new Le Car. The car should be based on the current B platform that underpins the current Clio and the Clio 4, which will make its debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show.