PARIS, May 7 (Reuters) - Renault's

limited-edition, electric remake of its iconic 1980 R5 Turbo

petrol-engine hatchback, originally designed to compete in rally

sports, drew 850 orders in its first week despite a 155,000 euro

($176,000) starting price, the carmaker said.

Renault plans to sell only 1,980 units of the 555-horsepower

Renault 5 Turbo 3E electric vehicle, which boasts the body-built

rear wings of its combustion-engine ancestor and can accelerate

to 100 km (62 miles) per hour in 3.5 seconds.

That acceleration is possible thanks to two in-wheel

electric motors in the rear wheels, a first for a production

model vehicle.

In-wheel motors are stand-alone electric motors housed in

all or some of the wheels of an EV, eliminating the need for

axles and powertrains. Proponents say this frees up space inside

EVs, adds power and extends battery range because the vehicle is

lighter.

A spokesperson for Renault said the in-wheel motors for the

Turbo 3E will be supplied by Protean, a UK-based specialist in

this technology.

The spokesperson said Renault received 850 reservations for

Turbo 3E in the first week after orders opened on April 22, with

interest from Europe, Japan, the Middle East and Australia.

To secure the car, customers have to pay a 50,000-euro

deposit and wait until 2027 when deliveries are expected to

begin from Renault's Alpine plant in Dieppe, northern France.

($1 = 0.8806 euros)

(Reporting By Gilles Guillaume, Writing by Nick Carey; Editing

by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)