Renault 6
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | February 25, 1899 in France |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Website | www |
The Renault 6 (often abbreviated as R6) is a compact family car within the C-segment category, designed and manufactured by the French company Renault between 1968 and 1986. Constructed on the platform of the Renault 4, it initially utilized the same engine but featured a larger, more contemporary five-door hatchback configuration. Its design was reminiscent of the larger Renault 16, albeit with a more angular and box-like appearance.
Introduced at the 1968 Paris Motor Show, the R6 aimed to occupy a more upscale niche relative to the shorter Renault 4, positioning itself against competitors such as the Citroën Ami and the recently launched Citroën Dyane. It maintained a dashboard-mounted gear lever connected via an over-the-engine linkage, similar to that of the Renault 4 and rival compact Citroën models.
Manufactured in France starting in October 1968, the R6 remained available across European markets until 1980, while production and sales persisted in other regions until 1986.
Development
During its initial two years on the market, the R6 was criticized for underwhelming engine performance due to its use of the Renault 4’s powertrain in a heavier vehicle. This resulted in fuel consumption that was less efficient than that of the larger yet older rear-engine Renault 8, which boasted a more powerful engine and superior driving dynamics.
1970
At the 1970 Paris Motor Show, a new version featuring the Renault Cléon-Fonte engine, previously employed in the Renault 8 since 1962, was unveiled and regarded as a notable enhancement. The power output increased from . The original smaller engine option continued to be offered until June 1979 and was rebranded as the Renault 6 L after August 1977.
This revision brought improvements including upgraded trim levels, a redesigned gearbox, enhanced cooling system, and front disc brakes. The cooling system’s enhancement involved adding an extra grille beneath the original one (which replaced the license plate location on the R6-850), while disc brakes necessitated new rim designs featuring ventilation openings. In Spain, an engine with displacement was introduced to circumvent higher taxes applied to engines exceeding ; subsequent versions included and from 1981, the engine in the 6 GTL variant. The one-liter unit produced DIN power and was also used in Spanish-built Renault 5 and Renault 7 models. Spanish production lasted until 1986, totaling approximately 328,000 vehicles.
In 1973, Renault collaborated with Teilhol/ACL to produce the 6 Rodéo, an open-bodied utility vehicle made from plastic panels, comparable to the Citroën Méhari. This model was retailed through select Renault dealerships. Additionally, a four-wheel-drive option developed by Sinpar was offered for both the Rodéo and R6 sedan.
Facelift
The R6 underwent a facelift in June 1973 that introduced square-shaped headlights, redesigned taillights, a plastic front grille, and updated bumpers. The front indicators were repositioned from between the bumper and headlights directly onto the bumper. Mechanical elements remained unchanged during this update. A minor revision followed in 1978, with the most visible change being a black-colored grille.
International production
Production ceased in France and most European countries by 1980 without an immediate replacement model. Nevertheless, manufacturing continued in Spain and Argentina until 1986. In 1976, Renault launched the similarly sized hatchback Renault 14 to compete with vehicles like the Volkswagen Golf, which had popularized hatchbacks across Europe.
In Argentina, where production was handled by IKA-Renault, the original design was retained until a facelift in 1978 renamed it "6 GTL." This update featured a one-piece black grille that incorporated headlight surrounds along with black bumpers. Argentinian versions were powered by a 1397 cc M1400 engine delivering SAE-rated horsepower. Before this facelift, from 1969 to 1978, models used an 1118 cc Cléon-Fonte engine (M1100) producing . Total output in Argentina reached 80,869 units, with pre-facelift cars accounting for approximately 71% of production.
In Colombia, manufacturing ended in 1984 as local assembly of the Renault 9 commenced.