RENAULT
Since 2021, Renault has been presenting a series of unique creative projects that take a fresh look at its exceptional heritage and iconic models that are now part of popular culture. These projects are testament to the brand’s ability to merge heritage, design and innovation, while creating a unique space for contemporary designers to express themselves. Renault is now calling on the creative talent of Ora-ïto, one of the most avant-garde designers of his generation, to reinvent the aesthetics of the Renault 17, creating a bold and modern version of this historic car.
“Revisiting an iconic vehicle like the Renault 17 was a particularly exciting challenge. Working with Renault, I was able to articulate my artistic vision to create a sculpture in my own image,” said Ora-ïto, Designer.
“The R17 restomod, reinterpreted by Ora-ïto, perfectly aligns with our approach of uniting heritage and innovation. The R17 was a pop culture icon of the 1970s with its avant-garde design and bold personality. This project celebrates Renault’s original iconic design, giving it a contemporary twist with new features to create an experience that transcends generations. “At Renault, we are proud to collaborate with talented and bold designers like Ora-ïto to reinvent our iconic models while remaining true to the spirit of the brand,” said Arnaud Belloni, Renault Brand Director and Vice President.
Launched in 1971, the Renault 17 is the epitome of 1970s idealism. A sports coupé with clean lines, available as a 4-seater coupé or convertible, it perfectly reflects the spirit of the era with its looks and performance. With front-wheel drive and a longitudinal engine, later equipped with fuel injection, and featuring a range of active and passive safety features, the Renault 17 is both high-tech and elegant, with its angular lines and an interior designed for discerning customers. More than 92,000 units were produced between 1971 and 1979.
The R17 electric restomod by Ora-ïto is a one-off model and not a precursor to a future production vehicle. Conceived as a restomod by Ora-ïto, it was developed in collaboration with the Renault Design team.
“With Sandeep (Bhambra) and Gilles (Vidal), we worked on a retro-futuristic, almost cinematic theme. I wanted to cover the Renault 17 with a second skin, showcasing the design and giving it a more contemporary look in terms of fluidity, dynamism and rationality, through my own approach to design and my own signature: ‘simplexity’. I wanted to simplify the most complex aspects,” explained Ora-ïto. A leading figure in contemporary design, Frenchman Ora-ïto is a child of the 1970s. Known for his avant-garde creations and bold approach, Ora-ïto made his name by hacking leading brands with his digital products. A firm believer in ‘simplexity’, a mix of simplicity and complexity, he is a pop culture phenomenon in his own right, participating in prestigious collaborations and receiving awards around the world. The electric R17 restomod by Ora-ïto is his first joint project with Renault.
While reflecting the history and integrity of the Renault 17, the show car is also a restomod, combining the classic charm of the original with today’s technologies and materials. This revolutionary approach opens up synergies between past and present, creating a modern experience without losing sight of the spirit of the Renault 17.
A two-door coupé with a tailgate, the Renault 17 featured a sporty design accentuated by four round headlights, frameless doors, a body without a central pillar, fully opening rear side windows and second quarter windows with louvres.
Based on the monocoque structure of the original, the R17 electric restomod by Ora-ïto has the same cabin, doors, windows, glass, seals and underbody.
The body is 17 cm wider for better road holding. The design of the wings and wheels gives it a look that is both spectacular and elegant.
The R17 electric restomod by Ora-ïto is a very modern vehicle. The headlights are in the form of four rectangular modules with rounded corners, while the taillights form a single strip. At the rear, the vehicle has a 270 hp all-electric powertrain.
The R17 had all the interior characteristics of a true tourer, with its specific driving position, comfortable seats, a full range of equipment and meticulous finishes.
The restomod version maintains the original comfort standards, while introducing some changes to the dashboard and central console. The seats have been redesigned around the original ‘petal’ structure, with new upholstery inspired by the world of interior design: a feather satin in fine Merino wool for the brown fabric and a light and delicate wool bouclé, both long and thick, for the beige fabric.
A contemporary vehicle, the electric R17 restomod by Ora-ïto features a central screen with the current Renault graphic environment and four small geometric screens behind the steering wheel, inspired by the dials of the original model.
“We kept the most characteristic design elements of the Renault 17, starting with the front. My aim was to add style and fluidity, but without altering the character of the R17. You can still see the original Renault 17 and its sports coupé look. I wanted to add my own design codes, accentuating some of the features with a futuristic touch to give them a more timeless look. That’s what I did with the wheels, for example. My signature is also visible on the inside of the car. We teleported the Renault 17 into the future, introducing some subtle changes that give it a completely new look. Our key phrase was: ‘a detail is not a detail’. There is a certain ambivalence in not wanting to be taken entirely at face value. We also tried to give it a touch of lightness. Renault has a strong identity and I like that. You know a Renault when you see one, and this restomod is no exception to the rule,” said Ora-ïto.
“Creating a new artistic version of the R17 opened up a huge field of exploration, giving us the opportunity to create something unexpected and memorable. The creative dialogue between Ora-ïto and our Design team maintains the body lines and spirit of the original R17, while giving it a minimalist and ultra-contemporary look. Inside the car, the key features of the R17 are given a new twist through Ora-ïto’s creative vision. The style of geometric lines and shapes transports passengers into the comfortable world of interior design and furnishings,” explained Sandeep Bhambra, Renault Concept Cars Design Director.
The R17 electric restomod by Ora-ïto is on display at Maison5 (Paris) until 11 September. This unique prototype will then be presented at the Chantilly Arts & Elegant Richard Mille competition from 12 to 15 September, before being displayed on the Renault stand at the Paris Motor Show from 14 to 20 October.
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