Everything is getting bigger and bigger (Rétromobile 2022)
03/17/2022
No, we're not talking about the Rétromobile classic car fair that opened its doors the day before yesterday. This is because it has shrunk, albeit in completely new halls at the Porte de Versaille. It's all about cars and Renault was there to celebrate 50 years of the R5.
As is well known, the Renault 5, launched in 1972, is to be followed in a few years by a fully electric version for the 21st century, first shown as a prototype in 2021. Visually, the new model deliberately incorporates typical design elements of the "little friend", but overall everything has been made two or three sizes larger. This can already be seen in the rear lights, but also in the car as a whole.
In fact, the prototype is significantly larger in all dimensions, with an additional 30 cm in width, 50 cm in length and 10 cm in height. However, the growth in size can best be seen in the wheels.
Where once 145 mm wide tires on 13-inch wheels sufficed, today 225 mm wide low-profile tires on 19-inch rims fill the wheel arches.
And these thick wheels are probably not really conducive to either driving dynamics or economy; from 18 inches upwards, it's all about marketing and "good looks".
To be fair, however, it has to be admitted that the new model is quite pretty to look at and will certainly meet with enthusiastic buyers.
We will of course be reporting more from the Rétromobile Paris, which is still open until Sunday, March 20, 2022, in the coming days.
