Renault Cars
Euro · 13 models
French volume maker with a serious hot hatch heritage. The Megane RS, Clio Williams, and the original 5 Turbo are some of the great affordable performance cars never sold in North America.
EuroRenault is the largest French car maker and one of the most influential European volume brands. The brand identity blends mass-market practical cars with a long tradition of focused performance variants and a deep involvement in motorsport (Renault has competed in Formula One, Le Mans, and rallying for decades). The hot hatch heritage is the Renault story most relevant to enthusiasts. The 5 Turbo (1980-1986) was a homologation special for Group B rallying: rear-mid-engined turbocharged four-cylinder in a wide-body 5 hatchback. Around 4,800 cars were produced. The 5 GT Turbo of the late 1980s applied the front-engine turbo formula to a more affordable and high-volume version. The Clio sport hot hatches (Clio Williams, Clio RS, Clio V6) carried the formula through the 1990s and 2000s. The Megane RS line (1, 2, 3, and 4) extended it into the larger compact hatch segment. The Megane R26.R, the Megane RS Trophy R, and the various track-focused special editions are some of the most respected front-drive hot hatches ever made. Outside hot hatches, Renault is the volume French brand competing in subcompact and compact segments globally. The Clio, Megane, and Captur are the volume sellers in Europe. The Alpine sub-brand was revived in 2017 with the A110 mid-engine sports car (sold in Europe only). Renault has not been sold as a passenger car brand in North America since the late 1980s (when the AMC partnership ended). The cars are well-loved in Europe and other markets but largely unknown in the US except to enthusiasts who follow international motorsport. On WhipJury, Renault submissions are rare but usually memorable: imported Clio Williams or Clio V6 examples, occasional 5 GT Turbo cars, and rare Megane RS imports.
Renault models we cover
The 5 Turbo
The Renault 5 Turbo of 1980 was a Group B rally homologation special. The standard front-drive 5 hatchback was completely re-engineered: the rear seats removed, a turbocharged 1.4 four-cylinder mounted longitudinally where the rear seats had been, rear-wheel drive, wide-body fender flares with massive rear wheels. The road car made 160 horsepower in stock form; the rally car made over 350. About 4,800 5 Turbos were built across Turbo, Turbo 2, and Maxi 5 Turbo variants. Clean examples now sell for $150,000 to $300,000.
The Megane RS line
The Megane RS (Renaultsport) hot hatches have been some of the most respected front-drive performance cars of the 21st century. The Megane RS 225 Trophy of 2005, the Megane R26.R of 2008, and the Megane RS Trophy R of 2014 set Nürburgring lap records for front-drive cars at various points. The cars combined turbocharged four-cylinder engines with focused chassis tuning and aggressive aerodynamics.
Renault on WhipJury
Renault submissions are rare given the brand absence from North America. Imported Clio V6, Clio Williams, and Megane RS examples appear occasionally and always do well in voting. The 5 Turbo is a unicorn in any market and especially rare on WhipJury, but always draws strong reactions when posted.
