Renault wants to launch a hot hatch version of its Zoe EV within the next three years and lead the charge into electric performance cars.
The hot version of the electric Zoe has been rumored for quite a while now, ever since the French automaker brought out the Zoe e-Sport EV concept. Apparently Renault is waiting for the right moment, according to the company’s product planning boss Ali Kassai who spoke to Autocar.
Related: Renault Could Kill The Clio RS, Replace It With A Hot Electric Zoe RS
“We need to find a way to make passion of performance cars socially acceptable,” Kassai said. “I believe Renault is best placed to find that way because of our history as a leader in EVs and one of the historic players in performance cars.”
“We have been thinking about this for a long time,” he added. “It will happen the day when the technology road blocks are removed. This means high performance but also sustainability of performance and making economic sense.”
Previous reports suggested that a Renault Zoe RS could take up the role of the Clio RS in the range, as the French car maker feels that a traditional hot supermini is no longer feasible in today’s market.
When asked about a possible launch date of a high-performance electric Renault model, Kassaid said: “It has to be short, because we were the leader in EVs, so we need to keep up the pace. I hope in three years.”
Renault however doesn’t give up on its ICE-powered RS models either; “We will not let our fan club down,” Kassai added. “As long as we can offer these cars, regulatory-wise, we will.”
