The Renault 5 (also called the R5 ) was a supermini produced by the French automaker Renault in two generations between 1972 and 1996. It was sold in many markets, usually as the Renault 5 and in North America as Le Car , from 1976 to 1986. Nearly 5.5 million Renault 5s were built.
First generation (1972–1984)
The Renault 5 was introduced in January 1972 as Renault's first supermini. Styled by Michel Boue, who died before the car's release, the R5 featured a steeply sloping rear hatchback and front dashboard. Boue had wanted the taillights to go all the way up from the bumper into the C-pillar, in the fashion of the much later Fiat Punto and Volvo 850 Estate / Wagon, but the lights remained at a more conventional level.
The R5 borrowed mechanicals from the Renault 4, using a longitudinally-mounted engine driving the front wheels with torsion bar suspension. OHV engines were borrowed from the Renault 4, Renault 8, and Renault 16, and ranged from 850 to 1400 cc.
Early R5s used a dashboard-mounted gearshift (the gearbox is in front of the engine) — later replaced with a floor mounted shifter. 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 a plastic bumper bar — or fascia — that's since become an industry standard.
The R5's engine was set well back in the engine bay, above and half behind the gear box, allowing the stowage of the spare wheel under the bonnet/hood, an arrangement freed more space for passengers and luggage within the cabin.
Other versions of the first generation included the Renault 5 Alpine (Gordini in the United Kingdom), Alpine/Gordini Turbo, and a four-door sedan version called the Renault 7 and built by FASA-Renault of Spain.
Renault Le Car
The North American Renault 5 debuted in 1976 as the Le Car. American Motors (AMC) marketed it through its 1,300 dealers where it competed in the United States against such front-wheel-drive subcompacts as the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Rabbit.
The small Renault 5 was dubbed Le Car by AMC’s ad agency and the new line was launched in the U.S. with a marketing campaign emphasizing that it was Europe's best selling automobile with millions of satisfied owners.
The U.S. version featured a 1397 cc I4 engine that produced 55 hp (41 kW), and a more conventional floor-mounted shifter was substituted for the dash-mounted unit. In 1977 it dominated the Sports Car Club of America "Showroom Stock Class C" class.
The Le Car was offered in 3-door hatchback form from 1976-80. For the 1980 model year, the front end was updated to include a redesigned bumper, grille and rectangular headlights. A 5-door hatchback body style was added for the 1981 model year. Imports continued through 1983, when the car was replaced by the Wisconsin-built Renault 11-based Renault Encore.
Chronology
- January 1972: Introduction of the Renault 5 in (127 mm) L and TL forms. Both models had rear pull handles, a folding rear seat, grey bumpers, wind up front windows, and a dashboard-mounted gear shift lever. The TL was better equipped, and had a vanity mirror for the front seat passenger, three ashtrays (one in the driver's door armrest and two in the rear), two separate reclining front seats instead of one bench seat, front pull handles, and three stowage pockets.
- 1973: Gear lever moved from dashboard to floor, between front seats. TL gains heated rear window.
- 1974: Introduction of the R5 LS , same as R5 TL, plus floor-mounted gear shift lever, stylish 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, illuminated ashtray with cigarette lighter.
- March 1975: R5 LS renamed R5 TS . The TS had all features of the previous LS, plus new front seats with integrated head restraints, black bumpers, illuminated heater panel, front spoiler, rear wiper, clock, opening rear quarter lights and reversing lights.
- February 1976: Introduction of the R5 GTL . It had the 1289 cc engine from the R5 TS (albeit 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 wheel rims, reversing lights, cigarette lighter, illuminated heater panel, electric windscreen washers.
- 1976: Introduction of the R5 Alpine , with 1397 cc engine with hemispherical combustion chambers, high compression ratio and & special 5-speed manual gearbox.
- 1977: R5 GTL gets opening rear quarter lights.
- 1977: R5 L gets new 845 cc engine.
- 1978: Introduction of the R5 Automatic , similar to R5 GTL, but with 1289 cc (55 bhp) engine, 3-speed automatic transmission, vinyl roof and front seats from TS.
- 1980: 5-door TL, GTL and Automatic models arrive.
- 1982: Introduction of the R5 TX .
- 1982: Introduction of the R5 Alpine Turbo , similar to the R5 Alpine, but with a Garrett T3 Turbo, new alloy wheels, stiffer suspension and disc brakes all-round.
Engines
- B1B 0.8 L (845 cc/51.6 cu in) 8-valve I4; 36 PS (26 kW; 36 hp); top speed: 120 km/h (75 mph)
- C1C (689) 1.0 L (956 cc/58.3 cu in) 8-valve I4; 42 PS (31 kW; 41 hp); top speed: 130 km/h (81 mph)
- C1E 1.1 L (1,108 cc/67.6 cu in) 8-valve I4; 45 PS (33 kW; 44 hp); top speed: 135 km/h (84 mph)
- 810 1.3 L (1,289 cc/78.7 cu in) 8-valve I4; 55 PS (40 kW; 54 hp); top speed: 140 km/h (87 mph) (automatic)
- 810 1.3 L (1,289 cc/78.7 cu in) 8-valve I4; 64 PS (47 kW; 63 hp); top speed: 151 km/h (94 mph)
- C1J (847) 1.4 L (1,397 cc/85.3 cu in) 8-valve I4; 63 PS (46 kW; 62 hp); top speed: 142 km/h (88 mph) (automatic)
- C2J 1.4 L (1,397 cc/85.3 cu in) turbo 8-valve I4; 110 PS (81 kW; 108 hp); top speed: 185 km/h (115 mph); 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 9.1 s
Sporting versions
The Renault 5 in its 1.4 litre Alpine version was raced in Group 2, its most notable result was a second and first in the 1977 Monte-Carlo rally despite a serious handicap in power against other works cars.
For 1978, a rally Group 4 (later Group B) version was introduced. It was named as the Renault 5 Turbo, but being mid-engined and rear wheel drive, this car bore 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, this car won the Monte Carlo Rally for its first race in World Rally Championship. The 2WD R5 turbo soon had to face the competition of new 4WD cars that proved to be faster on dirt, however it remained among the fastest of its era on tarmac.
- Renault 5 Turbo - The Renault 5 was radically modified by mounting a turbocharged engine behind the driver in what is normally the passenger compartment, creating a mid-engined rally car.
The Renault 5 Turbo was made in many guises, eventually culminating with the Renault 5 Maxi Turbo. This car had up to 400 bhp (298 kW; 406 PS), all produced from a slightly enlarged and highly modified version of the original 1397 cc Renault 5 engine.
- Renault 5 Alpine ( Renault 5 Gordini in the UK)
- Renault 5 Alpine Turbo ( Renault 5 Gordini Turbo in the UK)
Many confuse the different versions of the Renault 5 Turbo, often grouping them all under the common moniker "Renault 5 Turbo". The "Renault 5 Gordini Turbo", referenced above, is the front-engined predecessor to the "Renault 5 GT Turbo". The "Renault 5 Turbo", "Renault 5 Turbo 2" and variants are the mid-engined versions with the wide wheel-arches (which are so often copied with poor-quality bodykits on second-generation Renault 5s).
Global markets
The original Renault 5 continued in production in Iran by SAIPA and Pars Khodro, as the Sepand. In 2002, the Sepand was replaced by the P.K, a car that adopted a styling reminiscent of the second generation, but still using the slightly-modified original bodywork. The P.K has been replaced by the New P.K which is a little changed in body style.
The Renault 5 was one of the first French-made cars to achieve sales success on the British market. Between 197
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