Nice New Renaults

Back during the 1980s Renault cars, in alliance with the now defunct American Motors Company [AMC], were sold at American dealers. Once Chrysler purchased AMC, Renault retreated and quit selling cars in the US. A recent announcement by Renault that the U.S. market may once again be a candidate for Renault cars has been met with only tepid enthusiasm by the automotive press. Will Renault return? More importantly: does anyone care?

Renault’s exit from the US during the late 1980s was hardly noticed by most consumers. As makers of the tiny LeCar, the compact Alliance, and the midsize Medallion/Eagle Premier, not much distinguished Renault from the competition.

Today, Renault is quite a different company with a very different outlook and product line. Ever since its purchase of the Nissan Motor Company, Renault’s focus has shifted from a predominately European stage to a global stage. With Nissan technology incorporated into many current vehicles, Renault quality and reliability levels have risen. This is good news as Renault previously was criticized in the US for building poorly made cars. Better made cars than AMC, but not rising to the quality level that many had expected.

Press reports indicate that Renault will tackle the Chinese market first before even considering the US…if ever. Is it because Americans remember the poorly made Renault products of the past that is behind the company’s hesitancy to reenter the market? Or, could it be Renault’s perception that America doesn’t much like the French right now?

We don’t know for sure, but I am guessing that it is a little bit of both. Regardless, a high quality affordable Renault automobile would be a welcome change to the junk sold here a generation ago. Let’s hope that Renault has learned a valuable lesson from Nissan on how to build and sell a top quality product. If so, then bring them here.

Copyright 2005 — Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on a variety of topics including: advocacy, automobiles, aviation, business, Christian themes, family, news, product reviews, travel, writing, and more. Samples from his portfolio are available right online.

When the Renault 5 GT Turbo first arrived in the UK back in 1985 it caused quite a considerable stir amongst its potential hot hatch rivals. It wasn’t just the looks of this pocket rocket that caused it to stand out, with the turbo changed engine and minimal kerb weight, it also had the power and pace to put its rivals firmly in the shade.

The Renault 5 GT turbo marked the start of a Renault hot hatch dynasty that progresses through the distinctive gold wheels of the Renault Clio Williams and on to the limited edition Renault Clio Trophy and the latest Renault Clio 197. Under the bonnet, the Renault 5 GT Turbo used the uninspiring 1.4 litre engine from its bigger Renault 11 brother. However the addition of a Garret T2 turbo and intercooler meant that inside the Renault 5 it produced a respectable 115 bhp.

Whilst 115 BHP seems quite laughable by modern standards, it is important to remember that the Renault 5 was not burdened by today’s airbags, air conditioning, side impact bars and power steering and so the overall weight of the car was just 850kg. This was light enough to give the Renault 5 GT turbo a very modern 0-60 time of just 7.5 seconds, and quick enough to beat its contemporaries, in the shape of the Fiat Uno Turbo and Peugeot 205 1.6 GTi.

It wasn’t just in the power stakes that the Renault 5 GT could trounce its rivals, with all new springs, dampers and anti roll bars the R5 could also run rings around them when it came to handling too. The GT also proved to be extremely popular amongst the aftermarket fraternity, who could easily modify the engine to produce up to 200bhp.

The distinctive looks of Renault 5 GT Turbo were penned by Marcello Gandini, who already had the Lamborghini Contach in his portfolio, and with its wide wheel arches, imposing front grill and fake vent ducts it is certain to make an impression wherever it goes. Whilst the yellow fog lights give the Renault 5 a certain French flair a modern driver would probably want to upgrade the weak headlights to more powerful xenon headlight bulbs.

Because so many Renault 5 GT Turbo’s were modified with engine upgrades, suspension changes and body kits, finding a totally original model today can prove to be quite a challenge, but one well worth pursuing as this performance icon has now achieved cult status and still has the performance to keep up with modern traffic.

The Renault 5 GT Turbo is destined for classic status and whilst being more fragile than a MK1 Golf GTi, its lack of modern comforts and safety aids mean it will always remain a true drivers car.

Whilst the Renault 5 GT Turbo still has the performance to keep up with its modern day rivals, you will find that the lighting performance from its standard Car Bulbs to be quite lacking, especially on demanding night drives. Fortunately you can very simply and easily improve your Renault’s car lights by upgrading the Headlight Bulbs from halogen to new xenon bulbs to really light up the road ahead.

The company, officially known as Société Renault Frères or simply Renault S.A is a French vehicle manufacturer. The company was established in the year eighteen hundred and ninety nine and began its production line toward the end of the same year. Among its huge line of fleet production, Renault churns out various automobile options that include cars, buses, trucks, vans and tractors. Owing to its association with another auto manufacturer Nissan, Renault is today the fourth largest vehicle manufacturer.

The company headquarters are located in Boulogne-Billancourt, France and it is a privately owned company. It operates in a hundred and eighteen companies all over the globe. Moreover it owns a number of subsidiaries in various parts of the world including the Romanian car manufacturer Automobile Dacia and the South Korean automobile maker Renault Samsung Motors. Renault owns up to ninety nine percent and eighty percent stake in both companies respectively.

The company is world famous for its innumerable ground-breaking blueprints, safety expertise and speed racing. Renault’s most unbeaten car model is the Renault Clio which is a supermini, that is, a classification bigger than a city car yet smaller than a small family car. The Renault Clio first rolled into production in nineteen ninety and is at the moment in its third production model. The basis of the Renault market is in France itself.

Société Renault Frères was started by a man named Louis Renault, together with two of his brothers Marcel and Fernand and another two of his comrades Thomas Evert and Julian Wyer. Louis Renault was born in the year eighteen seventy seven at the very core of Parisian bourgeoisie – which is a term used to define the upper or mercantile class in French society, whose rank emanates from either employment, schooling and prosperity as opposed to the aristocracy whose illustrious social status is hereditary. His father was a prosperous trader in textiles and button, while his mother was the offspring of well-heeled merchants.

It was the publicity that their vehicles generated from motor racing that the brothers realized and exploited into the backbone of what is Renault today. In fact there first sale was after a test drive conducted by a friend of Louis’ father who was so awed by the ease with which the car dashed and ascended the streets that he immediately purchased it. This was on Christmas Eve of the year eighteen ninety eight. The make of the vehicle was the Renault Voiturette 1CV.

Renault established their stance for novelty right from the beginning. In eighteen ninety nine, the company commenced fabrication of the first sedan vehicle, retailing at an average of three thousand francs which would have required the normal worker at the time a period of ten years worth of salaries and wages to accumulate. The new Renault company insignia was launched in nineteen seventy two. It was part and parcel of the of the huge trademark overhaul put into place to concur with the unveiling of the Renault 5 hatchback.

The birth of the popular auto, the Renault, was marked by the primary contribution of one single individual – Louis Renault. On Christmas Eve in 1898, Louis Renault who had a passion for mechanics drove his new car, which was a De Dion-Bouon cycle converted with a universal jointed propeller shaft with three gear speeds. His friends and brother made fun of his invention when he parked it outside.

Taking up the challenge, Louis Renault drove his “Voiturette,” as it was called, down the steep hills of Rue Lepic several times much to the amazement of his friends. His efforts won him an order for the first 12 cars, marking his beginning as an auto maker. It also started a long era of Renault’s list of patents starting with Louis Renault’s universal jointed propeller shaft, which came with a three-gear box including reverse, with the third gear in direct drive.

His car came to be known as Renault Voiturette Type A. In the year 1899, the company, Renault Freres, was formed when Fernand and Marcel Renault joined hands with Louis Renault. When the company started to offer their patented creation to others, the money flowing in from the patent was channeled towards the expansion of the company.

Understanding the role played by racing in the publicity of the car, the Renault brothers started to take active involvement in racing their own creations. Unfortunately, Marcel Renault experienced a tragic death during the 1903 Paris-Madrid race.

In the meantime, the company’s introduced the Type B and the first commercial vehicle, the Type C and the Type K with enhanced features that were capable of driving at a speed of more than 60 kph. This drew a lot of attention from the public…

The year 1902 saw another great brainwave from Louis Renault’s, the “supercharged engine” that paved the way for the company’s entry into the F1 racing in the 1970s.

But it was the Marne Taxi, the first taxi in the history of Paris that made Renault widely known.

Louis Renault was a great visionary who recognized the potential in making a giant step towards aeronautics, diversifying into the production of an aircraft engine in 1907.

After the death of Marcel in 1903, the company came into the sole hands of Louis Renault. In 1908, he renamed the company to the Societe des Automobiles. During World War I, his attention was directed to the production of war vehicles, including the aircraft Avant Renault and the FT17 tank.

Renault went under the control of German administrators during the fall of France during World War II. After the death of Louis Renault in 1944, the company continued its direction in racing with Renault’s turbine-powered Étoile Filante — creating a world speed record that still holds good today by travelling at a speed of 308.9 kph.

Through numerous mergers and acquisitions, innovative design and revolutionary technologies, Renault has continued its saga as a great auto manufacturer, moving into the fourth position after its alliance with Nissan.

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