Renault 5 Turbo

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Renault 5 Turbo

Manufacturer:	Renault
Production:	1980–1984
Body Styles:	MR coupé
Engines:	1397cc Cléon turbo

The Renault 5 Turbo or R5 Turbo was a high-performance coupé automobile produced by the French manufacturer Renault in the early 1980s. The car was designed for rallying, but was also sold in road-going guise.

The 5 Turbo featured a mid-mounted 1397cc Cléon turbocharged engine in a modified Renault 5 chassis. In standard form, the engine developed 160 hp (118 kW). Though it still resembled the standard Renault 5, and was badged a Renault 5, it had little technical similarity.

The first batch of 400 5 Turbos was produced to comply with Group 4 homologation. A second version, Turbo 2, was introduced using stock Renault 5 parts in replacement of many light alloy parts of the original 5 Turbo. The original 5 Turbo was in retrospect called "Turbo 1". The Turbo 2 was much cheaper but had nearly the same levels of performance.

All the racing derivatives were based on the Turbo 1. The factory pushed the engine output up to 180 hp (132 kW) for the Cévennes, 210 hp (154 kW) for the Tour de Corse, and possibly as much as 350 hp (257 kW) in the Maxi 5 Turbo. These kits featured stronger engine internals and more efficient intercoolers.

Driven by Jean Ragnotti the R5 Turbo won the Monte Carlo Rally on its first outing in the World Rally Championship. The 2WD R5 turbo soon faced the competition of new 4WD cars that proved faster on dirt. However, it remained among the fastest of its era on tarmac where it was highly succesful.

In 2004, Sports Car International named the R5 Turbo number nine on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s.