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R5 by Delta 4×4 is a cutesy adventure-ready EV

How do you make one of the best EVs of the past year even better? Give it a lift kit, chunky tyres and some big old spot lights.

That’s the thinking behind the R5 Reimagined by Delta 4×4, which gives Renault’s award-winning supermini a rugged makeover in the name of fun and nostalgia.

German off-road specialist Delta is famous for creating monster versions of everything from the Mitsubishi L200 to the Tesla Model Y and Ferrari Purosangue. It has come up with the R5 4×4 “to show what’s possible on a small scale”.

Starting with a regular Renault 5, Delta’s vision has a 100mm suspension lift that allows aggressive 18-inch Loder AT #1 off-road tyres to fit beneath massively widened wheel arches. It also adds a full-on adventure roof rack with spare tyres, traction boards and a shovel for digging yourself out of trouble. And, because no off-roader is complete without some extra lights, there are four PIAA spotlights “straight out of the 80s rally era”. There’s also some rather eye-catching paintwork.

Announcing the project, Delta said: “Dreams drive us – and sometimes, they roll on chunky all-terrain tires. Our latest concept brings real adventure spirit into the electric age: a Renault R5, inspired by historic rally icons and reimagined as a compact off-road machine.”

R5 by Delta 4x4
The R5 by Delta is currently a concept but the firm says it could be put into production

Delta hasn’t said anything about changes to the Renault 5’s powertrain, so for all its adventurous looks, the R5 4×4 might be stuck with a 148bhp front-wheel-drive setup that doesn’t quite live up to the off-road aesthetic.

For now, the R5 by Delta 4×4 is just a series of digital renderings but the Bavarian firm says that with enough customer interest “this dream could hit the dirt for real”.

The Delta Renault 5 is the latest in a line of spin-offs based on the reborn supermini. The Alpine A290 offers a hot hatch alternative while the Turbo 3E is a 500bhp, £135,000 rally-inspired hyper hatch. Alpine has also just launched a rally-spec version of the A290, complete with limited-slip diff and hydraulic handbrake.

Alongside that, Renault has had its own go at creating a 4×4 based on the AmpR Small platform. The Renault 4 Savane gives the compact SUV a rugged makeover and, more significantly, adds a second motor, proving that the platform can support all-wheel-drive setups.

So maybe there is hope for Delta’s R5 4×4 after all.

R5 by Delta 4x4 close up image
18-inch off-road tyres and a 100mm suspension lift give the R5 some attitude

Matt Allan

Matt is Editor of EV Powered. He has worked in journalism for more than 20 years and been an automotive journalist for the last decade, covering every aspect of the industry, from new model reveals and reviews to consumer and driving advice. The former motoring editor of inews.co.uk, The Scotsman and National World, Matt has watched the EV landscape transform beyond recognition over the last 10 years and developed a passion for electric vehicles and what they mean for the future of transport - from the smallest city cars to the biggest battery-powered trucks. When he’s not driving or writing about electric cars, he’s figuring out how to convert his classic VW camper to electric power.

Matt Allan