The Renault 5 is a four-passenger, three or five-door, front-engine, front-wheel drive hatchback
supermini
The B-segment is the second smallest of the European segments for passenger cars between the A-segment and C-segment, and commonly described as "small cars". The B-segment is the largest segment in Europe by volume, accounting for 20 percent of ...
manufactured and marketed by the French automaker
Renault
Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufactured ...
over two generations: 1972–1985 (also called R5) and 1984–1996 (also called Super 5 or Supercinq). The R5 was marketed in the US and Canada as Le Car, from 1976 through 1983.
Renault marketed a four-door sedan variant, the
Renault 7
The Renault 7 (or "R7") is a 4-door saloon version of the Renault 5 supermini, produced and sold in Spain by Renault's subsidiary, FASA-Renault from 1974 to 1984.
It was very similar to the R5 hatchback (which had been launched two years earlier ...
, manufactured from 1974 until 1984 in Spain by
Renault
Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufactured ...
's subsidiary
FASA-Renault FASA-Renault was a Spanish automobile manufacturer which produced Renault and Renault-based vehicles from 1951 to 2000. Since 2000 until the present, its factories are part of Renault España.
History
The company was established in 1951 in Vallad ...
and exported to select markets.
The Renault 5 became the best-selling car in France from 1972 until 1986, with a total production exceeding 5.5 million over a 14-year period, making it France's most popular car.
First generation (1972–1985)
The first images and details of the Renault 5 were published on 10 December 1971, and the car's formal launch followed on 28 January 1972.
The Renault 5 was styled by Michel Boué,
who designed the car in his spare time, outside of his normal duties.
When Renault executives learned of Boué's work, they were so impressed by his concept they immediately authorized a formal development program. The R5 featured a steeply sloping rear
hatchback
A hatchback is a car body configuration with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to a cargo area. Hatchbacks may feature fold-down second row seating, where the interior can be reconfigured to prioritize passenger or cargo volume. ...
. Boué had wanted the tail-lights to go all the way up from the bumper into the
C-pillar
The pillars on a car with permanent roof body style (such as four-door sedans) are the vertical or nearly vertical supports of its window area or greenhouse—designated respectively as the ''A, B, C'' and (in larger cars such as 4-door stat ...
, in the fashion of the much later
Fiat Punto
The Fiat Punto is a supermini car (B-segment) produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat from 1993 to 2018, spanning over three generations. The third generation of the car was marketed between 2005 and 2009 as the Grande Punto, and between 2009 ...
and
Volvo 850 estate/wagon, but the lights remained at a more conventional level.
It was launched onto the right-hand drive UK market in the autumn of 1972, where alongside the recently launched
Fiat 127
The Fiat 127 is a supermini car produced by Italian car manufacturer FIAT from 1971 to 1983. It was introduced in 1971 as the replacement for the Fiat 850. Production of the 127 in Italy ended in 1983 following the introduction of its replacement, ...
it competed as an imported but more modern alternative to
British Leyland's Mini
The Mini is a small, two-door, four-seat car, developed as ADO15, and produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors, from 1959 through 2000. Minus a brief hiatus, original Minis were built for four decades and sold during ...
and
Chrysler Europe's Hillman Imp
The Hillman Imp is a small economy car that was made by the Rootes Group and its successor Chrysler Europe from 1963 until 1976. Revealed on 3 May 1963, after much advance publicity, it was the first British mass-produced car with the engine blo ...
— and without competitors from
Ford
Ford commonly refers to:
* Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford
* Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river
Ford may also refer to:
Ford Motor Company
* Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company
* Ford F ...
or
Vauxhall
Vauxhall ( ) is a district in South West London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. Vauxhall was part of Surrey until 1889 when the County of London was created. Named after a medieval manor, "Fox Hall", it became well known for ...
.
The 5 narrowly missed out on the 1973
European Car of the Year
The European Car of the Year ("ECOTY") award is an international Car of the Year award established in 1964, by a collective of automobile magazines from different countries in Europe. The current organising companies of the award are ''Auto'' (Ita ...
award, which was instead given to the
Audi 80
The Audi 80 is a compact executive car produced by the Audi subdivision of the Volkswagen Group across four generations from 1966 to 1996. It shared its platform with the Volkswagen Passat from 1973 to 1986 and was available as a saloon, and s ...
.
Boué died of cancer at the end of 1972, just a few months after the car he designed was launched.
The R5 borrowed mechanicals from the successful
Renault 4
The Renault 4, also known as the 4L (pronounced "Quatrelle" in French), is a small economy car produced by the French automaker Renault between 1961 and 1994. Although the Renault 4 was marketed as a short station wagon, its minimal rear overhang ...
, using a longitudinally-mounted engine driving the front wheels with
torsion bar
A torsion bar suspension, also known as a torsion spring suspension, is any vehicle suspension that uses a torsion bar as its main weight-bearing spring. One end of a long metal bar is attached firmly to the vehicle chassis; the opposite end termi ...
suspension.
OHV
An overhead valve (OHV) engine, sometimes called a ''pushrod engine'', is a piston engine whose valves are located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier flathead engines, where the valves were located bel ...
engines were the same as the Renault 4 and larger
Renault 8
The Renault 8 (Renault R8 until 1964) and Renault 10 are two rear-engined, rear-wheel drive small family cars produced by the French manufacturer Renault in the 1960s and early 1970s.
The 8 was launched in 1962, and the 10, a more upmarket ver ...
. At the car's launch, the 782 cc and 956 cc versions were available depending on the model level. A "5TS/5LS" with the 1,289 cc engine from the
Renault 12
}), the other is the submodel designation TS. Sold as a sedan or a station wagon (TSW), it has a 1.4 litre carburetted C1J (Cléon) engine with and came with either a four- or a five-speed transmission.
Australia
The Renault 12 won Australia's ...
was added from April 1974. As on the Renault 4, entry-level Renault 5s had their engine sizes increased to 845 cc in 1976, and at the top of the range later models included the 1,397 cc version.
It was one of the first modern superminis, which capitalized on the new hatchback design, which Renault had patented on its
R16, launched in 1965. It was launched a year after the booted version of the
Fiat 127
The Fiat 127 is a supermini car produced by Italian car manufacturer FIAT from 1971 to 1983. It was introduced in 1971 as the replacement for the Fiat 850. Production of the 127 in Italy ended in 1983 following the introduction of its replacement, ...
, and during the same year that the 127 became available with a hatchback. The R5 was launched three years before the
Volkswagen Polo
The Volkswagen Polo is a supermini car (B-segment) produced by the German car manufacturer Volkswagen since 1975. It is sold in Europe and other markets worldwide in hatchback, saloon, and estate variants throughout its production run.
History
...
and
Vauxhall Chevette
The Vauxhall Chevette is a supermini car that was manufactured by Vauxhall in the United Kingdom from 1975 to 1984. It was Vauxhall's version of the " T-Car" small-car family from Vauxhall's parent General Motors (GM), and based primarily on th ...
, and four years before the
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta is a supermini car marketed by Ford since 1976 over seven generations. Over the years, the Fiesta has mainly been developed and manufactured by Ford's European operations, and has been positioned below the Escort (later the ...
- new superminis which met the growing demand for this type of car in
Western Europe
Western Europe is the western region of Europe. The region's countries and territories vary depending on context.
The concept of "the West" appeared in Europe in juxtaposition to "the East" and originally applied to the ancient Mediterranean ...
. British Leyland was working on a new modern supermini during the 1970s, but the end product - the
Austin Metro
The Metro is a supermini car, later a city car that was produced by British Leyland (BL) and, later, the Rover Group from 1980 to 1998. It was launched in 1980 as the Austin mini Metro. It was intended to complement and eventually replace the M ...
- was not launched until 1980. It was also introduced one year before the
Toyota Starlet
The is a subcompact car manufactured by Toyota from 1973 until 1999, replacing the Publica, but retaining the Publica's "P" code and generation numbering. The first generation Starlet was sold as the Publica Starlet in some markets. In Japan, i ...
, while the
Datsun 100A
The Datsun Cherry (チェリー), known later as the Nissan Cherry, was a series of subcompact cars which formed Nissan's first front-wheel drive supermini model line.
The Cherry featured the front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. The Cherry li ...
arrived in the UK starting in 1971. It was introduced six months before the
Honda Civic
The is a series of automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1972. Since 2000, the Civic has been categorized as a compact car, while previously it occupied the subcompact class. , the Civic is positioned between the Honda Fit/City and Honda Acc ...
which appeared later in July.
Sales in Japan began in 1976, where both the 2-door and 4-door were available at
Capital Car Dealerships.
[日本自動車輸入組合の資料による。実際に販売された車両の登録年(年式)は 1977年(昭和52年)の可能性あり] It was called the "Renault Go" because that is the Japanese word for "five". While originally sold with North American spec emissions equipment, it was changed to a French emissions package. The car was initially sold as left-hand drive, then upgraded to right-hand drive.
Although the mechanical components came from earlier models, body construction involved floor sections welded together with the other body panels, resulting in a
monocoque
Monocoque ( ), also called structural skin, is a structural system in which loads are supported by an object's external skin, in a manner similar to an egg shell. The word ''monocoque'' is a French term for "single shell".
First used for boats, ...
structure.
[ The approach had by then become mainstream among many European automakers, but represented an advance on the mechanically similar Renault 4 and ]Renault 6
The Renault 6 is a C-segment small family car manufactured and marketed by the French automaker Renault between 1968 and 1986.
The Renault 6 (R6) was launched at the 1968 Paris Motor Show, and was intended to be an upmarket alternative to the Ren ...
both of which used a separate platform. The monocoque structure reduced the car's weight, but required investment in new production processes.
The Renault 5 was targeted at cost-conscious customers, and the entry-level "L" version came with the same 782 cc power plant as the cheaper Renault 4 and drum brakes on all four wheels. In 1972, it was priced in France at below 10,000 francs.[ However, for many export markets the entry-level version was excluded from the range and front-wheel disc brakes were offered on the more powerful 956 cc "Renault 5TL" along with such attractions under the bonnet/hood as an alternator, and in the cabin reclining backrests for the front seats.][ From outside the "TL" was differentiated from the "L" by a thin chrome strip below the doors.][
The early production R5 used a dashboard-mounted gearshift, linked by a rod that ran over the top of the engine to a single bend where the rod turned downwards and linked into the gearbox, which was positioned directly in front of the engine. A floor-mounted lever employing a cable linkage replaced this arrangement in 1973. An automatic version, with the larger 1,289 cc engine, was added in early 1978. At the time, the automatic usually represented just under five percent of overall Renault 5 production.] Door handles were formed by a cut-out in the door panel and B-pillar. The R5 was one of the first cars produced with plastic (polyester and fiberglass
Fiberglass (American English) or fibreglass (Commonwealth English) is a common type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet called a chopped strand mat, or woven into glass cloth ...
) bumpers, which came from a specialist Renault factory at Dreux
Dreux () is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.
Geography
Dreux lies on the small river Blaise, a tributary of the Eure, about 35 km north of Chartres. Dreux station has rail connections to Argentan, Paris and Granvi ...
.[ These covered a larger area of potential contact than conventional car bumpers of the time and survived low-speed parking shunts without permanently distorting.][ This helped the car gain a reputation as an "outstanding city car",][ and bumpers of this type subsequently became an industry standard.
The R5's engine was set well back in the engine bay, behind the gearbox. The passenger compartment "is remarkably spacious" in comparison to other modern, small European cars.] The Renault 5 body's drag coefficient
In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient (commonly denoted as: c_\mathrm, c_x or c_) is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment, such as air or water. It is used in the drag equ ...
was only 0.37 (with most European cars going up to 0.45).
Other versions of the first generation included the four-door saloon version called the Renault 7
The Renault 7 (or "R7") is a 4-door saloon version of the Renault 5 supermini, produced and sold in Spain by Renault's subsidiary, FASA-Renault from 1974 to 1984.
It was very similar to the R5 hatchback (which had been launched two years earlier ...
and built by FASA-Renault FASA-Renault was a Spanish automobile manufacturer which produced Renault and Renault-based vehicles from 1951 to 2000. Since 2000 until the present, its factories are part of Renault España.
History
The company was established in 1951 in Vallad ...
of Spain, where virtually all examples were sold. A five-door R5 was added to the range in 1979, making it one of the first cars of its size to feature four passenger doors. The three-speed Automatic, which received equipment similar to the R5 GTL, but with a 1,289 cc (55 bhp) engine, a vinyl roof, and the TS' front seats, also became available with five-door bodywork. In March 1981, the automatic received the 1.4 L engine that increased both performance and fuel economy.
Renault 5 Alpine/Gordini/Copa
The Renault 5 Alpine was one of the first hot-hatches, launched in 1976 - going on sale two months before the original Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf () is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) produced by the German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen since 1974, marketed worldwide across eight generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates ...
GTI and two years after the Simca 1100Ti. The right-hand drive version was shown at the British Motor Show in 1978 and was officially on sale from 4 April 1979 in the UK and was sold as the Renault 5 Gordini because Chrysler
Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automoti ...
Europe already had the rights to the name "Alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National Pa ...
" in the UK and it had just been introduced on the Chrysler Alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National Pa ...
(UK version of Simca 1307
The Simca 1307 is a large family car produced by Chrysler Europe and subsequently PSA Peugeot Citröen from 1975 to 1986. Codenamed 'C6' in development, the car was styled in the United Kingdom by Roy Axe and his team at Whitley, and the car wa ...
) at the time. This was still months before the right-hand drive VW Golf GTi which also took three years to be converted by the factory to RHD. Use of the name Gordini
Gordini () is a division of Renault Sport Technologies (Renault Sport). In the past, it was a sports car manufacturer and performance tuner, established in 1946 by Amédée Gordini (1899–1979), nicknamed "Le Sorcier" (The Sorcerer). Gordini be ...
was from Amédée Gordini
Amedeo "Amédée" Gordini (23 June 1899 – 25 May 1979) was an Italian-born race car driver and sports car manufacturer in France.
Biography
Gordini was born in Bazzano, currently part of the Metropolitan City of Bologna in the Emilia-Romagn ...
, who was a French tuner with strong links with Renault and previous sporting models such as the Renault 8
The Renault 8 (Renault R8 until 1964) and Renault 10 are two rear-engined, rear-wheel drive small family cars produced by the French manufacturer Renault in the 1960s and early 1970s.
The 8 was launched in 1962, and the 10, a more upmarket ver ...
. This (and the later Alpine Turbo models) were assembled at Alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National Pa ...
's Dieppe plant, beginning in 1975.[ UK launch price was £4149, nearly a third more than the previous top model the TS at £3187, showing the considerable changes to the car over the 64PS TS which could not reach compared to the 93PS Gordini which could reach .
The 1.4 L (1397 cc) OHV engine, mated to a five-speed gearbox, was based on the Renault "Sierra" ]pushrod
A valvetrain or valve train is a mechanical system that controls the operation of the intake and exhaust valves in an internal combustion engine. The intake valves control the flow of air/fuel mixture (or air alone for direct-injected engines) ...
engine, but having a crossflow cylinder head with hemispherical combustion chambers and developed , twice as much as a standard 1.1 L (1108 cc) Renault 5. The larger engine and its various performance parts meant that the spare wheel could no longer fit there and was relocated to the boot/trunk. The Alpine could be identified by special alloy wheels and front fog lights and was equipped with stiffened suspension, but still retaining the torsion bar
A torsion bar suspension, also known as a torsion spring suspension, is any vehicle suspension that uses a torsion bar as its main weight-bearing spring. One end of a long metal bar is attached firmly to the vehicle chassis; the opposite end termi ...
at the rear with added anti-roll bars. Renault quoted a top speed of and tested in the July 1979 issue of UK magazine ''Car'', it achieved a top speed of and 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 9.7 seconds. The UK car magazine ''Motor'' road test figures quoted top speed of and 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 9.7 seconds.
Renault 5 Alpine Turbo/Gordini Turbo/Copa Turbo
The Renault 5 Alpine Turbo was launched in 1982 as an upgraded successor to the naturally aspirated
Naturally may refer to:
;Albums
* ''Naturally!'', an album by Nat Adderley
* ''Naturally'' (Houston Person album)
* ''Naturally'' (J. J. Cale album)
* ''Naturally'' (John Pizzarelli album)
* ''Naturally'' (Sharon Jones album)
* ''Naturally'' ...
Alpine. In Britain, the car was still called Gordini rather than Alpine. ''Motor'' magazine undertook a road test of the Turbo in 1982 and while they appreciated the performance (top speed , in 8.7 seconds), they were critical of its high price as it was £2 more than the larger Ford Escort XR3
Ford commonly refers to:
* Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford
* Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river
Ford may also refer to:
Ford Motor Company
* Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company
* Ford F ...
.
The 1.4 L (1,397 cc) engine in the Alpine/Gordini Turbo had a single Garrett T3 turbocharger, increasing the power output to . Sales continued until 1984 when the second generation Renault 5 was launched, and the release of the Renault 5 GT Turbo in 1985.
Renault 5 Turbo
The Renault 5 Turbo
The Renault 5 Turbo or R5 Turbo is a sport hatchback automobile launched by the French manufacturer Renault at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1980. The car was primarily designed for rallying, but was also sold in a street version.
A total ...
should not be confused with the Alpine Turbo or GT Turbo as it was radically modified by mounting a turbocharged engine behind the driver in what is normally the passenger compartment, creating a mid-engined
In automotive engineering, a mid-engine layout describes the placement of an automobile engine in front of the rear-wheel axles, but behind the front axle.
History
The mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive format can be considered the original layout of ...
rally car. It was also driven by the rear wheels rather than the front wheels. The Renault 5 Turbo was made in many guises, eventually culminating with the Renault 5 Maxi Turbo. With 8-valves, the 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four Cléon-Fonte engine produced 160 PS (158 hp; 118 kW) at 6000 rpm and maximum torque of 221 N⋅m (163 lb⋅ft) at 3250 rpm.
Renault Le Car
The North American Renault 5 debuted in 1976, but after disappointing sales the car was rebranded the following year as "Le Car". Renault formed an alliance in January 1979 allowing Renaults to be sold by American Motors Corporation's dealers. AMC marketed
Marketing is the process of exploring, creating, and delivering value to meet the needs of a target market in terms of goods and services; potentially including selection of a target audience; selection of certain attributes or themes to empha ...
it through its 1300 dealers, where it competed in the United States against such front-wheel-drive subcompacts as the Honda Civic
The is a series of automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1972. Since 2000, the Civic has been categorized as a compact car, while previously it occupied the subcompact class. , the Civic is positioned between the Honda Fit/City and Honda Acc ...
, and Volkswagen Rabbit
The Volkswagen Golf () is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) produced by the German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen since 1974, marketed worldwide across eight generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates ...
. It was described as a "French Rabbit" that "is low on style, but high on personality and practicality".
AMC's ad agency launched the car in the U.S. with a marketing campaign emphasizing that it was Europe's best-selling automobile with millions of satisfied owners. It did not achieve such immediate success in the United States market, even though the Le Car was praised in road tests comparing "super-economy" cars for its interior room and smooth ride, with an economical highway and cityas well as its smooth-running engine.
The U.S. version featured a 1289 cc inline-four engine
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...
rated at . In 1977, it dominated the Sports Car Club of America
The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is a non-profit American automobile club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional r ...
"Showroom Stock Class C" class. Ever tightening emissions legislation meant that power was down to by 1980.
The Le Car was offered in three-door hatchback form only from 1976 until 1980. For the 1980 model year, the front end was updated to include a redesigned bumper and grille, as well as rectangular headlights. A five-door hatchback body style was added in the 1981 model year. Imports continued through 1983, when the car was replaced by the Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha () is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the seat of Kenosha County. Per the 2020 census, the population was 99,986 which made it the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, Kenos ...
—built Renault 11
Eleven or 11 may refer to:
*11 (number), the natural number following 10 and preceding 12
* one of the years 11 BC, AD 11, 1911, 2011, or any year ending in 11
Literature
* ''Eleven'' (novel), a 2006 novel by British author David Llewellyn
*''E ...
-based Renault Alliance
The Renault Alliance is a front-wheel drive, front-engine subcompact automobile manufactured and marketed in North America by American Motors Corporation (AMC) for model years 1983–1987. The Alliance and its subsequent hatchback variant, the ...
. Sales in Canada continued until 1985, when production of the first generation Renault 5 came to an end.
In at least two U.S. municipalities, the Le Car was used as a law enforcement vehicle, when the La Conner, Washington
La Conner is a town in Skagit County, Washington, United States with a population of 965 at the 2020 census. It is included in the Mount Vernon– Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town hosts several events as part of ...
, police department acquired three of the vehicles for its fleet in the late-1970s. Renault advertised Le Car's versatility in a full-page ad featuring its use by the department. The Ogunquit, Maine, police department also used Renault 5's as their police cars in the late 70s/early 80s.
Heuliez built and sold van conversions as Le Car Van. The rear side panels were replaced with plastic panels that included round porthole windows and a new small windowed liftgate. The interior was red velour. It was available both in two- and four-seat versions. Between 1979 and 1983, about 450 Le Car Vans were built.
Chronology
* January 1972: Introduction of the Renault 5 in ''L'' and ''TL'' forms. Both models (which were available as three-door hatchbacks) had folding rear seats, grey bumpers, wind-up front windows, and dashboard-mounted gear shift levers. The TL was better equipped and had a vanity mirror for the front seat passenger, three ashtrays (one under the gear shift and two in the rear), two separate reclining front seats instead of one bench seat, front pull handles, and three storage pockets as well as a heated rear window.
* September 1972: The Renault 5 was launched on the British market in right-hand drive form.
* 1973: Gear lever moved from dashboard to floor, between the front seats.
* April 1974: Introduction of the ''R5 LS'', same as the ''R5 TL'' but with a larger 1.3 engine, different design steel wheels, H4 iodine headlights, electric windscreen washers, fully carpeted floor ahead of the front seats, carpeted rear parcel shelf, electronic rev counter, daily totalizer, two-speed ventilation system, rear wiper, and an illuminated ashtray with cigarette lighter.
* September 1974: R5 LS renamed ''R5 TS''.['' Salon 1981'', p. 115] The TS had all features of the previous LS, plus new front seats with integrated head restraints, black bumpers, illuminated heater panel, front spoiler, clock, opening rear quarter lights and reversing lights.
* February 1976: Introduction of the R5 Alpine, with 1397 cc engine with hemispherical combustion chambers, high compression ratio, and special five-speed manual gearbox
A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission (in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States), or stick shift (in the United States), is a multi-speed motor vehicle transmission system, where gear changes ...
. The ''R5 GTL'' was also launched in 1976 with the 1289 cc engine from the R5 TS (with the power reduced to 42 bhp), the equipment specification of the ''R5 TL'' plus grey side protection strips, and some features from the R5 TS such as the styled wheels, reversing lights, cigarette lighter, illuminated heater panel, and electric windscreen washers.
* 1977: The ''R5 GTL'' got opening rear quarter lights and the ''R5 L'' got the new 845 cc engine.
* January 1978: Introduction of the ''R5 automatic'', essentially a GTL with a three-speed automatic transmission and some features from the TS.
* August 1979: Five-door model presented
* 1980: Five-door TL, GTL, and automatic models arrive
* 1982: Introduction of the R5 TX and the hot hatch
A hot hatch (shortened from hot hatchback) is a high-performance hatchback car.
The term originated in the mid-1980s; however, factory high-performance versions of hatchbacks have been produced since the 1970s.
Front-mounted petrol engines, ...
R5 Alpine Turbo, a replacement for the R5 Alpine with a Garrett T3 turbo, new alloy wheels, stiffer suspension, and disc brakes on all four wheels.
* 1984: The R5 is replaced by an all-new second generation model.
Engines
* B1B 0.8 L () 8-valve I4; ; top speed: ; 0–100 km/h (62 mph): 22.3 s
* C1C (689) 1.0 L () 8-valve I4; ; top speed: also with ; top speed:
* C1E (688) 1.1 L () 8-valve I4; ; top speed: ; 0–100 km/h (62 mph): 21.4 s
* 810 1.3 L () 8-valve I4; ; top speed: (automatic)
* 810 1.3 L () 8-valve I4; ; top speed: ; 0–100 km/h (62 mph): 15.6 s
* C1J (847) 1.4 L () 8-valve I4; ; top speed: ; 0–100 km/h (62 mph): 21.4 s (automatic)
* C6J 1.4 L () turbo 8-valve I4; ; top speed: ; 0–100 km/h (62 mph): 9.1 s
* C1J 1.4 L (1,397 cc or 85.3 cu in) turbo 8-valve I4; 160 PS (118 kW; 158 hp); top speed: 204 km/h (127 mph); 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 6.9 s
Motorsport
The Renault 5 Alpine version was raced in Group 2 The term Group 2 may refer to:
* Alkaline earth metal, a chemical element classification
* Astronaut Group 2, also known as The New Nine, the second group of astronauts selected by NASA in 1962
* Group 2 (racing), an FIA classification for cars in a ...
. In the 1978 Monte Carlo, Renault 5 Alpines came second and third overall, despite a powerful team entry from Fiat and Lancia.
In 1978, a rally Group 4 (later Group B
Group B was a set of regulations for grand touring (GT) vehicles used in sports car racing and rallying introduced in 1982 by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Although permitted to enter a GT class of the World Sportscar ...
) version was introduced. It was named the Renault 5 Turbo
The Renault 5 Turbo or R5 Turbo is a sport hatchback automobile launched by the French manufacturer Renault at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1980. The car was primarily designed for rallying, but was also sold in a street version.
A total ...
, but being mid-engined and rear-wheel drive, this car had little technical resemblance to the road-going version. Though retaining the shape and general look of the 5, only the door panels were shared with the standard version. Driven by Jean Ragnotti
Jean "Jeannot" Ragnotti (born 29 August 1945 in Pernes-les-Fontaines, Vaucluse), is a French former rally driver for Renault in the World Rally Championship.
Ranking among his achievements are his conquering of the Monte Carlo Rally in 1981, wh ...
, this car won the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rallye Monte-Carlo (officially ''Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo'') is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco. The rally now takes place along the French Riviera in Monaco and southeast ...
for its first race. The 2WD R5 turbo soon faced competition from new 4WD cars that were faster on dirt; however, the Renault remained among the fastest of its era on paved roads.
Production elsewhere
;Iran
The original Renault 5 continued to be produced in Iran by SAIPA
SAIPA ( fa, سایپا, ''SAIPA'') is an Iranian automaker headquartered in Tehran. The SAIPAC (an acronym for the French ''Société anonyme iranienne de production des automobiles Citroën'') was established in 1965 as with 75% Iranian ownersh ...
, then by Pars Khodro
Pars Khodro ( fa, Pārs Xodro) is an Iranian automobile manufacturer. It was the first manufacturer of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in Iran.
History
Formerly, Pars Khodro built American Motors' Rambler and General Motors (GM) products under licen ...
(a SAIPA subsidiary), as the Sepand
Pars Khodro ( fa, Pārs Xodro) is an Iranian automobile manufacturer. It was the first manufacturer of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in Iran.
History
Formerly, Pars Khodro built American Motors' Rambler and General Motors (GM) products under lice ...
. In 2001 the Renault PK
The P.K was a car made by Pars Khodro between 2000 and 2005 using the body of the first-generation Renault 5 and the engine of the Kia Pride. "P.K" is an acronym for Pars Khodro.
After 24 years of manufacture of the Renault 5 as the Sepand in Iran ...
went on sale: for this version the Sepand's Renault 5 platform was replaced with that of a Kia Pride The Kia Pride is a subcompact car sold by the South Korean automobile manufacturer Kia Motors between March 1987 and January 2000, and again since September 2011. Between April 2005 and September 2011 the Kia New Pride had been sold.
Original model ...
, while a modified version of the Renault 5's bodywork was kept. The Sepand II, restyled in 2000, was kept in production with the original Renault underpinnings for a little while longer as a lower-cost alternative.
;South Africa
Assembly in South Africa began in late 1975, in Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
. The car was built in Toyota's local plant and sold through their network. The 5 was only available with one engine, the 1.3 L unit used in the European R5 TS rated at SAE.[ There was a base model, with vinyl seats and lap belts only, and the upmarket LS and LSS models. These received fabric interiors, side stripes, a vinyl roof, and more sound deadening and other comfort details. The LSS also got a central console and a full-length fabric sunroof. Many extras used in Europe, such as a rear window wiper and a tachometer, were not available in South Africa because it would make it impossible to meet local content regulations. Local content was 56% at introduction; this was to be increased steadily as production wore on.][
By 1979, the lineup was restricted to the GTL and the TS, both still with the 1289 cc engine but now with ISO respectively.]
;Yugoslavia
IMV from Novo Mesto
Novo Mesto (; sl, Novo mesto; also known by other alternative names) is a city on a bend of the Krka River in the City Municipality of Novo Mesto in southeastern Slovenia, close to the border with Croatia. The town is traditionally considered t ...
, SR Slovenia
The Socialist Republic of Slovenia ( sl, Socialistična republika Slovenija, sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Socijalistička Republika Slovenija, Социјалистичка Република Словенија), commonly referred to as Sociali ...
, built several Renault models since 1972, including the Renault 5 for the Yugoslav market.
Second generation (1984–1996)
The second generation R5, marketed as the ''Renault 5'' (or "Superfive"), launched in October 1984 — within 18 months of Ford
Ford commonly refers to:
* Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford
* Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river
Ford may also refer to:
Ford Motor Company
* Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company
* Ford F ...
, General Motors
The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
, Peugeot
Peugeot (, , ) is a French brand of automobiles owned by Stellantis.
The family business that preceded the current Peugeot companies was founded in 1810, with a steel foundry that soon started making hand tools and kitchen equipment, and the ...
, Fiat
Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. (, , ; originally FIAT, it, Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino, lit=Italian Automobiles Factory of Turin) is an Italian automobile manufacturer, formerly part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and since 2021 a subsidiary ...
and Nissan
, trade name, trading as Nissan Motor Corporation and often shortened to Nissan, is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer headquartered in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Japan. The company sells ...
launching competitors in the supermini sector. It was initially only available with a three-door body, which led to a somewhat slow introduction. Right-hand drive models for the UK market were launched in January 1985.
The bodyshell and platform were completely new (the platform was based on that of the larger Renault 9 and 11), and R5 aesthetic remained; styling was by Marcello Gandini
Marcello Gandini (born 26 August 1938) is an Italian car designer, known for his work with the automotive design house Gruppo Bertone, including his designs of the Lamborghini Miura, Countach, and the Lamborghini Diablo.
In a 2009 interview wit ...
. The new body was wider and longer with 20 percent more glass area, more interior space, and a lower drag coefficient (0.35), as well as at in the economy models. The biggest changes were the adoption of a transversely-mounted powertrain from the 9 and 11 and MacPherson strut
The MacPherson strut is a type of automotive suspension system that uses the top of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in the front suspension of modern vehicles, and is named for American automotive engineer Ear ...
front suspension. The five-door version arrived in May 1985.
The second generation launched in four trim levels: TC, TL, GTL, and Automatic. The entry-level TC had the 956 cc engine (rated at 42 bhp), while the TL had the 1108 cc engine (rated at 47 bhp), and the GTL, Automatic, TS and TSE had the 1397 cc engine (rated at for the GTL, for the Automatic, and for the TS and TSE). The TC and TL had four-speed manual gearboxes, while the GTL, TS, and TSE had five-speed manual gearboxes (which were optional on the TL), and the Automatic had a three-speed automatic gearbox. 1987 saw the introduction of the 1721 cc F2N engine in the GTX, GTE (F3N), and Baccara (Monaco in some markets, notably the United Kingdom). Diesel versions arrived in November 1985, mostly completing the range.
It was planned to market the vehicle as a downsized successor, substituting the AMC Pacer
The AMC Pacer is a two-door compact car produced in the United States by American Motors Corporation (AMC) from the 1975 through the 1980 model years. The Pacer was also made in Mexico by Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM) from 1976 until 1 ...
in the USA, which affected the design of the R5. Within the alliance of Renault and the American Motors Corporation
American Motors Corporation (AMC; commonly referred to as American Motors) was an American automobile manufacturing company formed by the merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company on May 1, 1954. At the time, it was the ...
, only its predecessor was marketed in the USA.[Joe Ligo]
''The Unfortunate History of the AMC Pacer''
2013
Renault used the naturally aspirated
Naturally may refer to:
;Albums
* ''Naturally!'', an album by Nat Adderley
* ''Naturally'' (Houston Person album)
* ''Naturally'' (J. J. Cale album)
* ''Naturally'' (John Pizzarelli album)
* ''Naturally'' (Sharon Jones album)
* ''Naturally'' ...
1.7 L from the Renault 9/11
The Renault 9 and Renault 11 are small family cars produced by the French manufacturer Renault for model years 1981–1988 in saloon (Renault 9) and hatchback (Renault 11) configurations — both were styled by the French automobile designer, Rob ...
, with multipoint fuel injection, in addition to the sports-orientated 1.4 L turbo. Under the name GTE, it produced with a catalytic converter. Although not as fast as the turbo model, it featured the same interior and exterior sports appearance, as well as identical suspension and brakes. The Baccara and GTX versions used the 1.7 engine - with the GTX featuring a full leather interior, power steering, electric windows, sunroof, high-specification audio equipment, with available air-conditioning and an onboard computer. The latter was effectively the same but the leather interior was an option and there were other detail changes. As with the previous generation, the 5 Turbo was again assembled at the Alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National Pa ...
plant in Dieppe
Dieppe (; Norman: ''Dgieppe'') is a coastal commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region of northern France.
Dieppe is a seaport on the English Channel at the mouth of the river Arques. A regular ferry service runs to Newha ...
, where forty cars per day were constructed in 1985.[
In 1990, the R5 was effectively replaced by the ]Clio
In Greek mythology, Clio ( , ; el, Κλειώ), also spelled Kleio, is the muse of history, or in a few mythological accounts, the muse of lyre playing.
Etymology
Clio's name is etymologically derived from the Greek root κλέω/κλεί ...
, which was a sales success across Europe. Production of the R5 was transferred to the Revoz
Revoz () is a manufacturing subsidiary of Renault in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. It is the only automaker in the country and one of its largest exporters. The company was established in June 1988 as a joint venture between Renault and Industrija Motorn ...
factory in Yugoslavia (since 1992, Slovenia) when the Clio was launched. It remained on sale with only 1.1 L, 1.4 L petrol, and 1.6 L naturally aspirated diesel engines.[Car Mechanics Magazine - January 2011 pp. 42-3]
The GT Turbo, with its turbocharged 1.4 engine and a top speed of more than 120 mph, was discontinued in 1991 on the launch of the Clio 16-valve.
A new 1.4 L engine with a catalytic converter engine used in the Clio was introduced during December 1992, which also marked the end of the R5 Diesel (retail market commercial fleet models kept this option). The most common variant available after the Clio had been introduced as a minimally equipped model named the R5 Campus until the car's 12-year production ended in 1996. It also marked the end of the R5 designation after nearly 25 years and the discontinuation of numerical model designations for Renault cars that had been in use for much of the company's history.
The Campus sold more strongly in the United Kingdom than elsewhere, because the Renault Twingo
The Renault Twingo is a four-seater passenger city car manufactured and marketed by the French auto-maker Renault, introduced in 1992 and currently in its third generation.
The first generation Twingo (two door, front engine) debuted at the Pa ...
that addressed the same market, was only sold in LHD form and only in mainland Europe. In 2011, it was recommended as one of "Britain's best bangers", by ''Car Mechanics Magazine'' because of the number of inexpensive, low mileage, full service history, used cars on the market. The Campus name was revived in 2005 with the Renault Clio
The Renault Clio () is a supermini car (B-segment), produced by French automobile manufacturer Renault. It was launched in 1990, and entered its fifth generation in 2019. The Clio has had substantial critical and commercial success, being consis ...
II.
Renault 5 GT Turbo
A "hot hatch
A hot hatch (shortened from hot hatchback) is a high-performance hatchback car.
The term originated in the mid-1980s; however, factory high-performance versions of hatchbacks have been produced since the 1970s.
Front-mounted petrol engines, ...
" version, the GT Turbo, was introduced in February 1985. It used a modified four cylinder, eight-valve Cléon
Cléon () is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in northern France.
This city is known for its Renault factory, which manufactures engines and gearboxes.
Two Renault engines are named after the city, the Cléon-Fo ...
1397 cc engine, a pushrod
A valvetrain or valve train is a mechanical system that controls the operation of the intake and exhaust valves in an internal combustion engine. The intake valves control the flow of air/fuel mixture (or air alone for direct-injected engines) ...
unit dating back to the 1962 original (in 1108 cc form). It was turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
with an air-cooled Garrett T2 turbocharger. Weighing a mere , and producing , the GT Turbo had an excellent power-to-weight ratio, permitting it to accelerate from a standstill to in 7.5 seconds.
To differentiate it from the standard 5, it came with plastic side skirts. Turbo lag
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
was an issue, along with poor hot starting, and was considered rather difficult to control. The same engine was used in the Renault 9 and 11 Turbos. The regular fuel tank was considered too small for the Turbo and a supplementary tank was installed at the rear left of the car, and the 5 GT Turbo also received an oil cooler. Suspension upgrades also meant that the ride height was lowered by in front while a new rear "four-bar" suspension, with a wider track, lowered the rear of the car by . The car's steering, at 3 turns from lock to lock, was also faster than the regular cars. Disc brakes on all four wheels with ventilated rotors on the front. The aerodynamic 5.5-inch wide aluminium wheels were similar to those of the Renault Alpine V6 GT.
In 1987, the facelifted Phase II was launched. Major changes in the Phase II version included installing watercooling
Cooling tower and water discharge of a nuclear power plant
Water cooling is a method of heat removal from components and industrial equipment. Evaporative cooling using water is often more efficient than air cooling. Water is inexpensive and non ...
to the turbocharger, aiding the Phase I's oil-cooled setup, which extended the life of the turbo. It also received a new ignition system
An ignition system generates a spark or heats an electrode to a high temperature to ignite a fuel-air mixture in spark ignition internal combustion engines, oil-fired and gas-fired boilers, rocket engines, etc. The widest application for spark ig ...
which permitted it to rev 500 rpm higher. These changes boosted engine output up to over . Externally, the car was revamped, with changes (including new bumpers and arches) that reduced the car's drag coefficient
In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient (commonly denoted as: c_\mathrm, c_x or c_) is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment, such as air or water. It is used in the drag equ ...
from 0.36 to 0.35. Giving Phase II a 0–100 km/h time of 7.5 seconds. In 1989 the GT Turbo received a new interior, and in 1990 the special edition Raider model (available only in metallic blue, with different interior and wheels) was launched. In late 1991 the Renault 5 GT Turbo was discontinued, superseded by the Clio
In Greek mythology, Clio ( , ; el, Κλειώ), also spelled Kleio, is the muse of history, or in a few mythological accounts, the muse of lyre playing.
Etymology
Clio's name is etymologically derived from the Greek root κλέω/κλεί ...
16V and the Clio Williams.
The Renault 5 GT Turbo's victory in the 1989 ''Rallye Côte d'Ivoire
The Rallye Côte d'Ivoire, perhaps better known as the Rallye Bandama as it was originally called, or the Ivory Coast Rally is a rally race held annually in Côte d'Ivoire in Africa. In common with other races on the continent, it is known for its ...
'' remains the only overall WRC victory for a Group N car.
;WRC victories
Roger Saunders and Alex Postan both took part in the 1987 British Touring Car Championship season
The 1987 Dunlop RAC British Touring Car Championship was the 30th season of the championship. The series, previously the British Saloon Car Championship, had a new name and new sponsor. Chris Hodgetts successfully defended his drivers title with ...
using a 5 GT Turbo.
Engines
Renault Express
The second-generation R5 also spawned a panel van
A panel van, also known as a blind van, car-derived van (United Kingdom) or sedan delivery (United States), is a small cargo vehicle with a passenger car chassis, typically with a single front bench seat and no side windows behind the B-pillar. ...
version, known as the Renault Express
The Renault Express is a panel van of the French automobile manufacturer Renault, which in July 1985 succeeded the R4 Fourgonette in the market. It was based on the second generation Renault 5.
It was commercialised in some European countri ...
. It was commercialized in some European countries as the Renault Extra (the UK and Ireland) or Renault Rapid (mainly German speaking countries
The following is a list of the countries and territories where German is an official language (also known as the Germanosphere). It includes countries that have German as (one of) their nationwide official language(s), as well as dependent ter ...
). This car was intended to replace the R4 F6 panel van, production of which had ceased in 1986.
EBS convertible
In 1989, the Belgian company EBS produced convertible
A convertible or cabriolet () is a passenger car that can be driven with or without a roof in place. The methods of retracting and storing the roof vary among eras and manufacturers.
A convertible car's design allows an open-air driving expe ...
versions of the Renault 5 (1,400 in total), almost all of which were left-hand drive. A total of 14 of the 1,400 cars produced were based on the right-hand drive GT Turbo Phase II.
Revival
The Renault 5 will return as an electric-powered hatchback by 2024, bearing design cues inspired by the original design and the Renault 5 Turbo
The Renault 5 Turbo or R5 Turbo is a sport hatchback automobile launched by the French manufacturer Renault at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1980. The car was primarily designed for rallying, but was also sold in a street version.
A total ...
. An Alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National Pa ...
version is said to be in development as well.
Production
Overall production of the Renault 5 and all its variants: 9,017,276 units, comprising:
* Renault 5 French (1972-1985): 5,276,630
* Iranian R5 (1987-1992): 49,270
* R5 Turbo (1980-1986): 4987
* R5 Maxi (1985-1986): 154
* R5 society (1975-1984): 218,795
* Siete (Spanish R5 4-door) (1974-1982): 30,790 (some sites show production between 159,000 and 160,000)
* Supercinq (1984-1996) 3,436,650
References
*
External links
"Road Test - Renault 5 GT Turbo" Autocar (UK) magazine, 26 March 1986
Renault 5 details
First-generation Renault 5s
RenaultSportClub - Anything from R5 Alpine to R.S. Clio 220T Trophy
{{Authority control
1980s cars
1990s cars
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
Hot hatches
5
Subcompact cars
Cars introduced in 1972
Touring cars