The Renault
5 is a four passenger, three or five-door, front-engine, front wheel drive hatchback supermini manufactured and marketed by Renault over two generations 1972–1985 (also called R5) and 1984–1996 (also called Super
5 or Supercinq). The R5 was marketed in the US as Le
Car, from 1976 to 1983. The R5 spawned the Renault 7, a four door sedan variant manufactured from 1974 to 1984 in Spain by Renault's subsidiary FASA-Renault and exported in limited markets.
The Renault
5 Alpine
Turbo was launched in 1982 as an upgraded successor to the naturally aspirated Alpine. In
Britain, the
car was still called Gordini rather than Alpine. Motor magazine undertook a road test of the Turbo in 1982 and while they appreciated the performance (top speed 179.9 km/h (111.8 mph), 0 to 97 kilometres per hour (0 to 60 mph) in 8.7 seconds), they were critical of its
high price as it was £2 more than the larger Ford Escort XR3.
The Renault
5 Turbo should not be confused with the Alpine Turbo or
GT Turbo as it was radically modified by mounting a turbocharged engine behind the driver in what is normally the passenger compartment, creating a
mid-engined hot hatch and rally
car. It was also driven by the rear wheels rather than the front wheels. The Renault
5 Turbo was made in many guises, eventually culminating with the Renault
5 Maxi Turbo. It was very successful in racing and rallying and is regarded as one of the greatest hot hatches of all
time.
To sum it up it was a fab french hatch.
