Showing results in Classics Reviews [Show all channels]
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Renault Vel Satis (2002 - 2007) (Classics Reviews)
When Renault discontinued its luxury executive car the Safrane in 2000, the French car maker was left with a hole in its model line-up. Enter the Vel Satis – one of the most expensive cars Renault ever made. -
Renault Clio Williams (1993 - 1995) (Classics Reviews)
The Renault Clio Williams set the template for all of the hot Renaults that followed it. It was powered by a 2.0-litre 16-valve engine for an excellent power to weight ratio, ditching the vogueish need for a turbocharger. -
Renault Clio Mk1 (1991 - 1998) (Classics Reviews)
Launched at the 1990 Paris motor show, the Renault Clio had a big job to do. The car it replaced, the ageing Renault 5, was regarded as a national treasure. In fact, the R5 continued to be sold after the Clio was launched, finally going out of production in 1996. -
Renault 5GT Turbo (1985 - 1991) (Classics Reviews)
This power figure on its own isn’t that impressive, but the Renault 5 only tipped the scales at 850kg, giving the tiny hot hatch truly engaging handling. And it's a bargain compared with the Peugeot and Volkswagen... -
Renault 9 and 11 (1981 - 1988) (Classics Reviews)
The Renault 9 and 11 were an attempt by the company to build a conventional range of cars with true international appeal - hopefully banishing memories of the quirky and hard to sell 14. The four-door R9 saloon arrived first in late 1981, and promptly won the European Car of The Year award - but despite this, it was an anonymous effort that had gone down in history in representing one of Renault's fallow periods. -
Renault 20 and 30 (1975 - 1984) (Classics Reviews)
When the Renault 30TS was launched in March 1975, it was the largest engine from the French manufacturer since WW2. The 2.7-litre PRV-powered five-door hatchback was a deliberate move upmarket that proved to be spectacularly mis-timed, thanks to the after-effects of the 1973 Energy Crisis. -
Renault 15 and 17 (1972 - 1980) (Classics Reviews)
The existence of the Renault 15 and 17 is attributable to the success of the Ford Capri. Once it became clear that Ford's Euro-sized Pony car was a substantial hit, rival manufacturers founf themselves scrambling to produce rival cars. -
Renault Corale Prairie (1951 - 1955) (Classics Reviews)
The Renault Colare Prairie might have sounded exciting, but it was actually rather mundane – it was introduced in 1951 to fill a gap in the Renault range. It was a stopgap estate car cobbled togther from components in the Renault parts bin to sit alongside the large Fregate saloon until an estate version of that car subsequently appeared in 1955. -
Renault 21 Turbo and Quadra (1988 - 1993) (Classics Reviews)
The Renault 21 Turbo was one of the unsung heroes of the performance saloon market of the 1980s. It arrived on the crest of a wave from France that included the Citroen BX 16V and Peugeot 405 Mi16, but the Renault outgunned both. -
Renault 9 and 11 Turbo (1984 - 1988) (Classics Reviews)
For Renault, turbocharging was a no-brainer - it was a forced-induction pioneer in Formula 1 and Group 4 rallying, and it wanted to exploit this in its production car range. The 9 and 11's turbo engine was a blown version of the brilliant and long-lived pushrod Cleon unit, and was a development of the powerpack debuted in the mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo. -
Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2 (1980 - 1986) (Classics Reviews)
But when making its mid-engined turbocharged challenger, for marketing purposes Renault needed it to at least resemble a car you could buy in the showroom. Hence it looking like a 5. The first 400 Renault 5 Turbos were built in-line with Group 4 regulations, but to build more of these homologation specials, it would have cost Renault too much money. -
Renault 5 Gordini and Gordini Turbo (1976 - 1984) (Classics Reviews)
It remained a solid seller until the end of the original Renault 5 in 1984 - what followed was considerably hotter.