Renault Sport Spider
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Parent | Renault |
The Renault Sport Spider is a roadster manufactured by Renault Sport, a division of Renault, between 1996 and 1999.
Project
Initiated in the early 1990s as part of Renault's effort to rejuvenate its brand, the Spider was intended to strengthen Renault's performance image, drawing inspiration from the earlier Renault 5 Turbo. It was developed to serve both as a competition vehicle for a Renault-organized one-make racing series and as a street-legal car. The first prototypes under Project W94 emerged in 1994, with a concept model unveiled at the 1995 Geneva Motor Show. Production commenced in early 1996 at Alpine’s Dieppe facility. Initial left-hand drive versions came with an aeroscreen similar to the race cars; starting in 1997, models equipped with a full glass windshield and wiper became available.
Approximately 1,640 units were produced in total, alongside about 80 exclusively race-prepared cars. Only windscreen-equipped versions were imported into the UK, where around 60 right-hand drive examples were built for both the UK and Japanese markets. The Spider was powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre F7R engine delivering , marking it as the first road-going vehicle to bear the Renault Sport emblem, now used for all high-performance Renault models developed by Renault Sport within the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
Features
Designed as an uncompromising driver's machine, the Spider utilized a chassis constructed from lightweight yet durable aluminium combined with plastic composite body panels. It notably did not offer any roof option. The engine and gearbox were mounted transversely as a single assembly fixed on an oscillating hinge—a concept borrowed from aeronautical engineering—to reduce vibration transmission to the frame. Both seat position and pedal placement could be adjusted to enhance driver comfort and control. Its powertrain was based on the 2.0-litre F7R engine found in the Clio Williams and Mégane Coupe, producing . The windscreen-equipped model had a curb weight of 965 kg, while the aeroscreen variant weighed slightly less at 930 kg; helmets were mandatory for drivers using the aeroscreen version.
Spider in motorsport
From the outset, the Spider was engineered to underpin a dedicated one-make racing series. Renault had been organizing such championships since the early 1980s with vehicles like the 5 Turbo, 21 Turbo, and Clio. A special Spider Trophy edition was created featuring an engine tuned to produce . These Spider racing series often supported larger events such as the British Touring Car Championship, serving as a platform that helped launch careers of prominent drivers including Jason Plato, who won 11 out of 14 races in the inaugural UK Spider Cup. In 1999, Andy Priaulx set a new benchmark by winning all 13 races in that season’s series, also securing pole positions and fastest laps in most contests.
Motorsport specification
- Power output: @ 6000 rpm, torque of 184.4 Nm (136.0 lb·ft) at 4500 rpm
- Maximum engine speed: 6800 rpm
- Weight:
- Front brakes: , front wheels , fitted with tires sized 205/50VR-16
- Rear brakes: , rear wheels , equipped with tires sized 225/50VR-16
- Gearbox: 6-speed Sadev sequential transmission
- Performance: Top speed approximately ~, acceleration from 0-100 km/h in about ~5.8 seconds, quarter mile completed in roughly ~14.1 seconds