Renault 5 Turbo
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | February 25, 1899 in France |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Automobiles |
The Renault 5 Turbo, also known as the R5 Turbo, is a sports car developed by the French manufacturer Renault featuring a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. It is derived from the widely recognized Renault 5 hatchback and was primarily engineered for rally racing. Introduced at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1980, a street-legal variant was made available to fulfill motorsport homologation standards.
Despite its premium pricing, sales surpassed the minimum production required for homologation, culminating in a total output of 4,987 units over six years—comprising 1,820 Turbo 1 and 3,167 Turbo 2 models.
Design
Motivated by the rally achievements of Lancia’s mid-engined Stratos, Renault’s Jean Terramorsi proposed a sporty adaptation of the Renault 5 Alpine. The unique rear design was crafted by Marc Deschamps at Bertone under the guidance of Chief Designer Marcello Gandini. The development utilized a Renault 5 Alpine as a prototype, internally designated as Projet 822.
Contrary to the front-engine layout of the standard Renault 5, the R5 Turbo incorporated a transversely mounted Renault Cléon-Fonte engine positioned behind the driver within an altered chassis. This power unit featured Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection paired with a Garrett T3 turbocharger, delivering at 6000 rpm and torque at 3250 rpm.
Mechanically independent from its base model counterpart, it employed rear-wheel drive using components sourced from other Renault vehicles: the rear suspension was adapted from the Alpine A310 V6, and it utilized a rotated five-speed manual gearbox borrowed from the Renault 30 TX. Upon release, it held the distinction of being France’s most potent production automobile.
In terms of aesthetics, it preserved much of the first-generation Renault 5 silhouette but was distinguished by broader fender extensions, a low-profile front spoiler, side skirts, and wider rear wheels encased within enlarged quarter panels featuring full-height air intakes and hot air vents adjacent to the tail-lights. The front bonnet accommodated a wider spare tire and included vents designed to expel air, potentially enhancing downforce.
Inside, the cabin was pared down to two sporty front bucket seats complemented by an innovative dashboard that included an asymmetrical steering wheel. Early editions showcased upholstery in red or blue color schemes.
The initial batch of 400 units was produced at Alpine’s Dieppe facility to satisfy Group 4 homologation criteria. Several elements from this model later influenced vehicles such as the Alpine A310, including suspension setups and alloy wheel designs.
Renault 5 Turbo 2
Subsequent to the homologation versions, the Turbo 2 was launched. This iteration replaced numerous light-alloy parts with standard Renault 5 components and substituted the Bertone seats and dashboard with those from the R5 Alpine. The color palette shifted from vibrant red or blue to darker grey tones for multiple parts.
Offering comparable performance at a more accessible price point, the Turbo 2 could achieve a top speed of and accelerate from 0–100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. To differentiate it from its predecessor, the original model is commonly referred to as "Turbo 1."
Although not broadly recognized as a homologation special, around 200 Turbo 2 units—distinguished by chassis VIN '8221'—were manufactured for Group B rally homologation purposes. These versions featured an alloy roof, an enlarged 1437cc engine, along with aerodynamic improvements and suspension geometry modifications aimed at competing with contemporaries such as the Lancia Stratos and Audi Quattro.
The concept of a compact mid-engined Renault resurfaced later with the introduction of the Renault Clio V6 in 1998.
North America
The original strategy intended to manufacture 1,000 Renault 5 Turbo units for Group 3 homologation along with an additional 3,000 factory-produced models for the U.S. market. Nevertheless, the planned U.S. sales did not come to fruition.
Instead, the vehicle was introduced into the United States through the grey import channel between 1976 and 1988, where European street-legal versions were modified to comply with American regulatory standards.
Awards
In 2004, Sports Car International placed the R5 Turbo at number nine in its ranking of the Top Sports Cars of the 1980s.
Motorsport
The R5 Turbo was engineered to enhance sales of the standard R5 and to achieve homologation for the FIA Group 3 and Group 4 rally competitions, which are now part of the World Rally Championship (WRC). All racing versions were derived from the Turbo 1 model.
Factory modifications boosted engine power to for the Critérium des Cévennes, increased it to for the Tour de Corse, and reached up to in the 1984 R5 Maxi Turbo. The ultimate Renault 5 Maxi Turbo Superproduction produced and won the 1987 French Supertouring Championship.
Competing within the sub-2000 cc division, turbocharged engines were multiplied by a factor of 1.4 for classification purposes. To meet FISA regulations on tire and wheel dimensions, Renault enlarged engine capacity to 1527 cc in the Maxi Turbo, effectively classifying it as a 2138 cc vehicle under rules, thus placing it in the 2000–2500 cc category. This adjustment permitted wider wheels but necessitated a higher minimum weight.
Piloted by Jean Ragnotti, the R5 Turbo achieved victory at its WRC debut during the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally. Despite this success, its two-wheel-drive configuration quickly encountered strong competition from more rapid Group B four-wheel-drive cars.
WRC victories
During the early 1980s, the Renault 5 Turbo secured numerous wins across national championships in countries such as France, Portugal, Switzerland, Hungary, and Spain, as well as at major European rallies including Monte Carlo.
After factory backing ended, various teams and private enthusiasts continued developing the model, sustaining its competitive presence and success in regional contests and local events for nearly twenty years.
With the emergence of historic racing classes, these legendary vehicles have made a comeback in international rallies and competitions.
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Additional resources
External links
- Renault 5 Turbo 2 , accessed 1 August 2008