5 Iconic Retro Hatchbacks which deserve to be brought back as an EV

Earlier this week, Renault announced they will be bringing back the 5 hatchback as an EV. In concept form, the end result is a stylish and minimalist design using design cues from the iconic 5 Turbo, such as the boxy shape, squinting lights and extended wheel arches. Given how most mainstream manufacturers have iconic compact cars they've sold in decades past, wouldn't it be cool if they also offered direct competitors to the new R5?

Honda and Fiat have already got their answers on the road, with the E and 500 respectively. There is also the Mini Cooper SE based on the slightly aging BMW compact car platform but still fits the bill nicely. But there's always the saying: "The more, the merrier" - With that in mind, here are 5 legendary hatchbacks which should be given the restomod treatment.

Lancia Delta Integrale

Lancia has arguably had one of the most miserable fates for what was previously such a desirable automaker. The Italian brand known for collecting a vast array of rallying accolades in the late 20th century is now selling a Fiat 500 with an aesthetically-challenging reskin. In my view, it doesn't have to be this way; once the Ypsilon has run its course, Lancia should re-introduce the Delta Integrale as an exciting, high-performance EV. Like the Renault 5 Turbo the R5 EV is based on, the Delta rose to fame through offroad motorsports and it highly appreciated by car fans today. Bring the Delta back and you recover a whole load of excitement for the Lancia brand once again.

Peugeot 205

Peugeot is another brand known for its rallying heritage, but unlike Lancia, Peugeot is still producing desirable cars to this day and is already making a heavy push towards electrification. What's more, today's edition of the 205, the 208, is a very attractive supermini that features some styling cues from the 205 such as the window line and taillight bar running across the tailgate. Once the 208 is due for replacement, Peugeot could double down of the retro influence and deliver something truly reminiscent of the 205 GTI, which formed the basis for the monstrously-powerful T16 Group B Rally Car.

VW Golf Mk1

The Golf has been known as the second chapter of the people's car, with the Beetle being the first and the ID.3 seeking to be the third. Since the Beetle lived alongside the Golf as a retro package, why not remake the Golf Mk1 to sit alongside the ID.3 to serve the same purpose in the near future? Seeing as Volkswagen has trademarked a whole host of names for their upcoming EVs, including e-Golf Classic, the automaker has already seen the appeal of this idea.

MG Metro

Admittedly, the Rover Metro is not really a car most car fans associate with being a classic due to its cheap build quality. However, The Chinese-backed MG of today is very different from the British firm it was 20 years ago. Now the company is producing well-made cars and has a strong push towards electrification. Now would be a good time to take the simple and practical lines of the Rover Metro and create a minimalist, emission-free and stylish city runaround.

Ford Fiesta

One of the reasons the Metro is not as fondly remembered is because it was always in a league below one of the UK's best-selling cars; the Ford Fiesta. Even though the Mk1 is regarded as a classic, the Mk2 is where the Fiesta really hit its stride. The sporty XR2 variant brought along some muscular wheel arches and rally-inspired fog lamps. All these cues on a modern chassis would create a very attractive package. What's more, Ford is an expert when it comes to making small cars very fun to drive; seeing them put that energy into an EV platform makes for an exciting prospect.

Can you imagine how much nicer vehicles on city streets would be with these restomods rolling around? Through in some factory customisation options and seeing these stylish motors around will brighten anyone's day. Let's hope these become a reality in the near future!