Renault reimagines iconic 17 with slick prototype

Renault has teamed up with French designer Ora-Ïto to reimagine its iconic 17 coupe. The new R17 electric restomod prototype show car combines the retro charm and feel of the original with modern futuristic design. It will be on show at the 2024 Paris Motor Show.

At first glance, little seems to have changed in terms of exterior design, but subtle tweaks have been made to rejuvenate the look and make it extra gorgeous. The body is 17cm wider, the wheel arches are flared, and the face is tidier with sharper lines for the slatted louvred grille and rectangular headlamps.

Similarly, at the rear, a single lamp blade runs the width of the car and sits above louvres, connecting the front and back. With no central pillars, the windows of the front and rear doors join together before hitting the C-pillars. The roof drops at a gentle angle, with a large rear window meeting the boot, providing the same familiar shape to the rear as the original 17. It’s all very pleasing indeed.

The car is finished in ‘Galactic Brown’ – an original shade developed specially for the prototype. It looks more black than brown in photos, but would perhaps seem lighter in the skin.

“We kept the most distinctive design features of the Renault 17, starting with the front end,” said Ïto. “My aim was to add style and flow, but without altering the character of R17. You can still see the original Renault 17 and its sports coupé looks. I wanted to add my own design codes, accentuating some of the characteristics with a futuristic touch to give them a more timeless look.”

The interior also clearly lifts elements from the original. Four separate geometric screens sit behind the steering wheel, just like the old analogue dials, displaying information on battery life, drive mode, and speed. A large digital clock also acts as the centre console screen, beneath which is a small storage compartment. The square steering wheel, with the inner clad in deep brown Merino wool fabric and the outer in a lighter beige wool bouclé fabric, extends from a narrow wooden veneer panel that is encased in a chrome surround.

The same two tones of brown are used on almost every other surface, from the IP to the floors and door panels. A splash of red comes from the digital screens, but otherwise, it is a muted affair that almost achieves the feel of an old smoking parlour or creaky library.

“Creating a new artistic take on R17 threw open a huge field of exploration, giving us the opportunity to come up with something unexpected and memorable,” said Sandeep Bhambra, Chief Designer, Concept Cars, Renault. “Inside the car, the main features of R17 are given a new twist through the creative vision of Ora Ïto. The style of the geometric lines and shapes takes passengers into the comfortable world of interior design and furnishings.”

Around 92,000 units of the original Renault 17 were built between 1971 and 1979. It was the company’s first front-wheel drive coupe, but used the same platform as the smaller Renault 12. The 17 was also the model that won Renault’s first world rally championship in 1974.

The prototype R17 is the latest project by Renault to breathe new life into its old models and put a spotlight on its heritage. In 2021, the Suite N°4 was born – a tribute to the 4L. A year later, the company produced the R5 Diamant prototype, and in 2023 presented the Twingo electric show car in collaboration with Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis.

The French marque has been busy of late, having recently taken the wraps off its production-ready Symbioz and the new Captur. The Renault 5 E-Tech electric also made its world debut at the 2024 Geneva Motor Show – another throwback to a bygone era, and one that stayed close to the prototype released in 2021. But the OEM has stated that the R17 will remain a prototype and will not be developed as a production car. We hope Renault might reconsider!