Starting in 2021, Renault has unveiled a series of creative projects that take a fresh look at its heritage and emblematic models that are now part of popular culture. The French brand is back with a new special project, relying on the creative talent of Ora Ïto, one of the designers who most represents the avant-garde in his generation: together, Renault and Ora Ito have reinvented the Renault 17 with a bold, modern interpretation of this historic car launched as a coupé in 1971. ‘Revisiting an iconic vehicle like the Renault 17 was a particularly exciting challenge. Working alongside Renault, I was able to articulate my artistic vision to create a sculpture in my own image,’ said Ora Ito who worked together with the Renault design team led by Gilles Vidal.
Based on the monocoque structure of the original, the R17 Restomod has the same passenger compartment, doors, windows, seals and underbody as its ancestor. The body is 17 cm wider for better road holding. The design of the mudguards and wheels gives it an elegant look, while the headlights are in the shape of four rectangular modules with rounded corners and the tail lights form a single strip. Under the bonnet is a 270 horsepower all-electric powertrain, while the carbon fibre chassis keeps the weight down to just 1.4 tonnes. The Galactic Brown body colour is an original shade developed especially for the car.
The R17 boasted all the interior features of a true tourer, with its sporty driving position, comfortable seats, full range of equipment and neat finish. The restomod version retains all the features of the original, while making a number of changes to the dashboard and centre console. The seats have been redesigned around the original ‘petal’ structure, with new upholstery inspired by the world of interior design: a satin in fine Merino wool for the brown fabric and a delicate, long, thick, light wool bouclé for the beige fabric. Like a contemporary vehicle, the R17 electric restomod x Ora Ïto features a central screen with Renault’s current graphic ambience and four small geometric screens behind the steering wheel, inspired by the dials of the original model.
