Renault 7
| Company type | Automobile model |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Renault 5 (R5) |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Defunct | 1984 |
| Successor | Renault 9 & Renault 11 |
| Headquarters | Spain |
| Products | Four-door saloon car |
| Parent | Renault |
The Renault 7 (R7) represents a four-door saloon variant of the Renault 5 supermini, manufactured by Renault's Spanish branch, FASA-Renault, between 1974 and 1984.
Although sharing the same mechanical components as the R5, the R7 was equipped with a narrower engine selection and distinguished by its four-door layout paired with a traditional saloon-style trunk, replacing the hatchback configuration found on the R5. This modification necessitated extending the wheelbase by slightly less than , while maintaining the distinctive asymmetrical wheelbase arrangement due to full-width torsion bars located in front of the rear axle.
In contrast to the R5, the R7 featured chrome-plated metal bumpers rather than plastic bumpers painted in body colour, contributing to a more upscale aesthetic. Initially fitted with a 1037 cc powerplant, the model was predominantly marketed within Spain, achieving a total output of 159,533 units. Its modest international penetration was largely because Renault marketed the larger yet similarly priced Renault 12 in other territories.
Launched two years subsequent to the R5 debut, the R7 underwent a facelift in 1979 and received an engine upgrade to 1108 cc in 1980. Its production ceased in 1984 following the worldwide release of the Renault 9 & 11. The five-door version of the R5 introduced in 1980 incorporated door designs derived from the Spanish R7. By 1984, as the R5 transitioned onto the R9/R11 platform, further development of a new R7 model was deemed unjustifiable.