Renault won't make the 8 Gordini concept but that's okay
Renault continues its look back to the past with the launch of the 8 Gordini coupe concept, inspired by the '60s original with a 2026 twist
When it comes to Renault's retro concepts, production is almost always a possibility. Sadly, unlike the fantastic Renault 5 and Twingo, the Renault 8 Gordini Concept, shown at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, will not be making it to showrooms. The '60s-inspired concept was purely an exercise for Renault in acknowledgement of an old '60s icon by tasking young designers with reimagining it.
Speaking to evo at the show, Renault Interior Design Director Stephane Maiore clarified the car's purpose, as a 'fun exercise in exploring Renault's heritage', rather than an indication that we should expect a retro Renault coupe or saloon on sale any time soon. Nor is the concept an indication that we will see a return of the Gordini brand as a modern day allegory for Renault Sport, or even a trim line. This concept – the car and the name – are a one-and-done. Happily, the visual and tactile appeal of the concept is central to Renault's production plans, with distinctive design and a feeling of quality. Just because the 8 Gordini won't happen, that doesn't mean Renault's letting up on capitalising on its heritage. Once the car leaves the 2026 Paris Motor Show it will eventually find its way to the future Renault Collections museum in Flins, France, when it opens to the public in 2028.
The design process initially began with an internal design competition in which 300 sketches were submitted for review. Of all of them, just two were selected to be transformed into a 2:5 scale model, and one of those led to the striking concept we see here.
The original car from 1964 was rear-engined, rear-wheel drive and had a modest 94bhp, but you’ll be pleased to hear that its successor has a little more. Details on its underpinnings and exact performance figures are undisclosed, but we do know that it produces 264bhp from a rear-mounted electric motor, in-keeping with the spirit of the original.
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Unlike some of Renault’s recent concepts, this is designed entirely in-house as a purposefully rally-style throwback to the original. It’s low, wide and has a square overall aesthetic with proportions akin to a rear-engined car: Renault refers to its design direction as having been inspired by café racers, much like the 5 Turbo 3E, with unnecessary items stripped back for a cleaner look and function over form. Its designers have gone to extreme lengths to minimise shut-lines, even going as far as to make the front end a single, lift-off item as a reference to motorsport.
Alexandre Malval, VP of Design at Renault, said: ‘With the flowing cabin lines, wide track, prominent wings and wheels of 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear, it appears to hug the road. The decision to make the rear wheels larger creates a visual sense of momentum: a nod to the rear layout that was the hallmark of the hugely enjoyable ride delivered by the original.'
It’s finished in a blue paint inspired by the Bleu de France shade of the original Renault 8 Gordini, and of course, it comes with the same white stripe. A bold set of four round headlights are paired by two large rally-style fog lights, and at the rear, its tail lights take a completely different approach, nestled flush behind the bodywork so they virtually disappear when turned off.
The cabin continues the cafe racer theme with clean lines, a full-width aluminium element running across the width of the cabin, and round digital dials neatly integrated into above. Leather, an Alcantara-like material and aluminium trim are the main materials chosen, with fabric door pulls chosen as a further suggestion of its motorsport routes. Stéphane Maiore, Renault interior design director, said: 'We drew inspiration from the original Renault 8 dashboard, taking its iconic design cues and reinterpreting them for today. The traditional metal panel with its circular dials has been repositioned horizontally to support and showcase a series of perfectly aligned round screens. The result is a design that feels both more modern and more elegant, while maintaining a clear link to the past.'
