The Renault 5 Diamant – read “dya-maun” (\dja.mɑ̃\) – is Renault’s latest electric and eccentric creation; a show-car brought to life by a unique collaboration between Renault and French designer Pierre Gonalons to celebrate the Renault 5’s 50th anniversary.
First introduced in 1972, the Renault 5 has made its name as a French icon with more than 5 million models sold during its first 12 years. Then, the Renault 5 Turbo solidified its reputation with a brilliant victory at the 1981 Monte-Carlo Rally, driven by Jean Ragnotti. Today, the Renault 5 is back at the forefront of the automotive industry with the all-electric Renault 5 prototype set to be released in 2024.
The Renault 5 Diamant Is Pierre Gonalons’ Vision
Ranked in Architectural Digest’s 100 Leading Creators list, is a French interior and product designer whose Art Deco style perfectly fits the retro-modern spirit of the Renault 5. Through French traditional savoir-faire, Pierre Gonalons applied his vision to bring out the pop icon that is the Renault 5, while respecting the design codes of the car. The result is a one of a kind, Parisian chic EV that brings the art world and automotive world together under one roof.
A Work Of Art Made Of Gold And Marble
Though no diamonds were used in the making of this car, the Diamant name alludes to Renault’s redesigned diamond-shaped logo and highlights the rare and precious nature of the materials used. Pierre Gonalons’ inspiration from the world of Haute Joaillerie (High Jewellery) shows through the design of the diamond-like headlights, as well as through the use of materials such as marble and gold, transforming the car into a work of art on wheels.
The signature frosted pink paint contains golden pigments and all badges, from Renault’s Diamond logo to the sun-shaped wheel ornaments, are plated with 24-carat gold. Overall, the Renault 5 Diamant remains extremely faithful to the original Renault 5, keeping the same boxy and petite silhouette from the seventies. But to make it more modern and to show off its electric nature, the front grille lights up with a sequential welcome light.
On the inside, Renault has given Pierre Gonalons creative freedom to reinvent the space and turn it into a loungy cabin, with details reminiscent of Gonalons’ own furniture pieces. The use of marble is what strikes the most, with a swirly, recycled marble-on-carbon steering wheel and center console. Mohair wool is the main material used for carpets and the dashboard uses hand woven horsehair, done via traditional techniques that only a handful of artisans master.
The Diamant Is A Modern 5 For Modern Times
The Renault 5 Diamant is a car that welcomes modern technologies, starting with its electric nature. Outside, the spherical door handles can recognize your fingerprints to lock and unlock the car. Inside, there are three round digital dials instead of a traditional dashboard, located behind the steering wheel. They respectively indicate the speed, time and battery charge. Instead of a central infotainment screen, there is a space specifically designed for smartphones to use navigation directly from phone applications, which keeps the interior modern and uncluttered.
Last but not least, Renault also plans on taking the Renault 5 Diamant concept a step forward by stepping into the digital world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), with the full reveal planned for September. We may likely not see much of the Renault 5 Diamant in the future as the one-off show-car will be put up for auction alongside its NFT counterpart, with proceeds donated to charity. But it will keep the excitement going until we know more about the 2024 electric Renault 5 and its possible high-performance Alpine version.
