Renault Group has confirmed Protean Electric as the supplier of in-wheel motors for the Renault 5 Turbo 3E, the brand’s electric mini-supercar. The companies announced on April 24 that the car will be the first European passenger vehicle to enter production fitted with in-wheel motors. Additional technical details will be presented at the 2026 International Vienna Motor Symposium.
Highlights
- Protean confirmed as production IWM supplier for the Renault 5 Turbo 3E
- Positioned as the first European passenger car to enter production with in-wheel motors
- Manufacturer-reported output of 555 hp driving the rear wheels
- Claimed 0–62 mph time of under 3.5 seconds (pending homologation)
- Joint technical papers to be presented at the 2026 Vienna Motor Symposium
A Production Nomination for In-Wheel Motor Technology
The supplier confirmation marks a meaningful step for in-wheel motor commercialization in Europe. While Chinese OEMs have previously homologated passenger cars with Protean hardware, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is the first European production program to adopt the architecture. The Turbo 3E is a rear-wheel-drive, limited-run mini-supercar developed with Alpine, with just 1,980 units planned.
Protean said the system was developed in two years following nomination. Renault Group reports that the package delivers 555 hp to the rear wheels and enables a 0–62 mph time of under 3.5 seconds. Renault has flagged the figures as pending homologation and subject to real-world variables.
The news builds directly on Protean’s milestone Goodwood showcase last summer, where the Pd18 in-wheel motor made its public debut in the Turbo 3E. The broader ProteanDrive platform, unveiled in its current form in 2024, is described in detail in our coverage of the Gen 5 ProteanDrive production launch.
Alpine Leadership Weighs In
Philippe Krief, Chief Executive Officer of the Alpine brand, said: “The team has been working hard to offer to enthusiasts a retro road supercar with the Renault 5 Turbo 3E. One of the key unique selling point is the in-wheel motors that we have developed together with Protean, who offered us the world leading IWM technology for this exciting project. We are delighted to be working with them to deliver the legacy of the iconic Renault 5 Turbo, in all-electric form.”
Andrew Whitehead, Chief Executive Officer at Protean Electric, added: “We are thrilled to see Protean’s in-wheel motor technology being integrated into such an iconic vehicle as the Renault 5 Turbo 3E. This collaboration represents a significant milestone the future of vehicle electrification as it shows clearly in-wheel motors have no limits. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Renault Group as they seek to use in-wheel motors to deliver better electric vehicles for their customers.”
What In-Wheel Motors Mean for the Platform
In-wheel motors move propulsion out of the vehicle’s central architecture and into the wheel hubs. The packaging eliminates driveshafts and a conventional rear transaxle, which can free up floor space, simplify torque vectoring, and reduce mass at the vehicle’s center. For a compact, rear-driven performance car with a carbon superstructure, the layout is consistent with the Turbo 3E’s emphasis on agility and weight distribution.
Protean is now part of the EXEDY Group following its acquisition from BEDEO earlier this year. The company holds more than 320 patents across 75 patent families and operates in the United Kingdom and China.
Vienna Symposium Disclosure
Both companies will present technical papers on the vehicle and powertrain at the 2026 International Vienna Motor Symposium. That forum is expected to provide the first detailed engineering view of how the Pd18 system was integrated into a production European program, including chassis, thermal, and controls considerations that have historically been cited as barriers to IWM adoption at scale.
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