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.
