Don’t let the cute face fool you. The 1983 Renault R5 Turbo 2 is a ferocious, mid-engine, turbo-charged growling beast of French fury.

Powered by a tiny 1.4 liter Cleon-Fonte inline four-cylinder engine, this 185 horsepower homologated Marcello Gandini-designed championship rally car uses a single Garrett turbocharger paired with a 5-speed manual transaxle that roars to life in the upper RPMs and produces 1.1 G of lateral grip.

Nicole discovers the unexpected rumblings and nimble handling of Eric Charnholm’s dream car and why the rally-transformed LeCar became known as the “Box of French Hate.” Just watch the video below to see and follow us also on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram!