Renault 5 Turbo 1980

The Renault 5 Turbo appeared on screen in a car chase in Never Say Never Again, released in 1983 and starring Sean Connery. An earlier milestone came during the 1979 Tour of Italy, where the prototype impressed observers despite retiring with an engine problem. The car later inspired a one-make European Cup launched in 1981, with races held as support events for Formula 1 Grands Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. (theoriginals.renault.com)

Production of the Renault 5 Turbo officially began on 20 May 1980. Renault records 802 cars built during 1980, although they carried the 1981 model year. Manufacturing was divided between Flins, Heuliez in Cerizay and Alpine in Dieppe: the body was produced, modified and then completed with its rear-mid-mounted engine, special body panels and distinctive interior. The complete Renault 5 Turbo programme, including Turbo 1 and Turbo 2, reached 4,857 units according to The Originals Renault Museum. For the first generation, Renault’s historical document lists 536 cars built in 1981 and 352 in 1982; these figures refer to production years and do not necessarily match the model year shown in sales documentation. (cdn.group.renault.com)

Early road tests emphasised how unusual the Renault 5 Turbo was for such a compact car. Motor Sport described it as an extraordinary automobile and praised its stability at high speed, while also criticising the dashboard’s limited legibility. The magazine observed that the engine felt relatively calm at low revs before becoming much more forceful as the turbocharger came fully into play. Contemporary coverage therefore focused as much on the car’s unusual engineering as on its performance: a rear-mid-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive, widened bodywork and production linked to competition homologation. This combination quickly established the Renault 5 Turbo as an unconventional French performance car, even though some ergonomic details drew criticism from the beginning. (motorsportmagazine.com)