27 of the most radical Renaults

Bold, brave and brilliant

A people carrier inspired by high-speed TGV trains? It’s the kind of clever thinking we love about the most radical Renaults – including the original Espace pictured here. Join us for a celebration of the French company’s most interesting and exciting cars, from the tiny Twizy to the elegant Avantime.

Renault Avantime

Frankly, even with the benefit of hindsight, the Renault Avantime looks like a vision too far. In fact, it’s rather tricky to define. A coupe-like MPV with two heavy doors, frameless windows and limited rear space. The Avantime is a cult classic – and a guilty pleasure – but even its most ardent fans must admit that it was little more than an automotive folly. The promise was better than the execution.

Not that Renault has ever been deterred…

Renault Sport Clio V6

Even by Renault’s standards, shoehorning a Laguna-sourced V6 engine into a Clio was a crazy idea. In truth, the Renault Clio V6 answered a question nobody asked, but it created what was essentially a supercar in a supermini suit. Not that it looked like a regular Clio, with its wide arches, 17-inch alloy wheels and twin exhausts. Early cars were unruly, but the so-called Phase Two cars are easier to tame.

Renault Clio Williams

In 1993, Renault wanted to celebrate its partnership with F1 great Williams Racing. It could have just badged up the existing Clio 16v to create a fancy special edition. Instead, it enlarged the 1.8-litre engine to 2.0-litres and 150hp, fitted gold Speedline wheels, honed the suspension and gave it a full Williams-branded makeover. This radical approach created a hot hatch legend.

Renaultsport Clio 172

Even the hot version of the next-generation Clio was pretty radical. Again using F1 know-how, Renault developed a special 2.0-litre engine producing a then-unheard of 172hp. Such power, and custom development, made it an instant legend and forced every other rival to quickly up their game.

Renault Espace

In 1982, having been shunned by Peugeot, Matra jumped into bed with Renault and engaged in some French kissing. Two years later, Renault gave birth to the Espace: a one-box MPV that was arguably the perfect family car. Was the world ready for a living room on wheels, though? In short, no. Renault sold NINE vehicles in the first month, as the buying public failed to embrace the innovative Espace. The hesitancy soon gave way to hysteria, as European families grew to love the flexibility of the MPV.

Renault Espace F1

How do you celebrate 10 years of a popular MPV? Go on a picnic? Visit a theme park? Make a few more babies? Not if you’re Renault. Instead, Matra teamed up with Williams to create the Espace F1, which used a lightweight carbon fibre chassis and a mid-mounted 3.5-litre V10 engine producing 800hp. This thing could hit 62mph in 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 194mph quicker than you could say “Mummy, I think I’m going to be sick.”

Renault Arkana

Today, SUVs have replaced MPVs as the go-to vehicle for families. Posh brands such as Porsche, Audi and BMW are making hay with coupe-look developments of their core SUVs, but no brand has yet offered a mainstream, affordable SUV-coupe… until now. Meet the Renault Arkana. Maybe not the most radical vehicle here, but still a significant one, and proof that even today, Renault still knows how to be different to the rest.

Renault Twizy

First seen as a concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Renault Twizy remains one of the cheapest – and smallest – electric vehicles you can buy. Technically, it’s a quadricycle, packing a pair of seats that are open to the worst of the British weather. It’ll cover 62 miles on a single charge, which is ideal, because you’re unlikely to want to spend too much longer in the Twizy. Great fun in small doses, but the newer Citroen Ami is more practical.

Renault Twizy F1

How much Renault Sport magic can you throw at a Renault Twizy? Enough, it turns out, to make something utterly bonkers. The headlines are compelling: a KERS unit derived from Renault Sport’s F1 experience, Michelin slick tyres from a single-seat racing car, plus a proper motorsport steering wheel from a Formula Renault 3.5 racer. It made a sound akin to an orchestra of electric mowers, Harrier Jump Jets and Dyson vacuum cleaners, while the acceleration was as scary as it was manic. We should know – we managed to bag a drive in the fun-size F1 car.

Renault 5 Turbo

As one of the earliest examples of a supermini, the humble Renault 5 was a rather radical development. Launched in 1971, it was sold alongside the Renault 4, establishing a new audience for the company and going on to become France’s most widely sold model. But the most radical version was the 5 Turbo – a mid-engined and turbocharged homologation special, built using expensive bespoke parts and designed for world rallying.

Renault Sport Spider

Often dismissed as the ‘French Elise’, the Renault Sport Spider actually arrived before the all-conquering Lotus. It was even more hardcore than the Elise – the windscreen and roof were optional. Power was sourced from the 2.0-litre engine found in the Clio Williams, while doors that rise upwards gave it supercar levels of kerb appeal.

Renault Voiturette Type A

This is where it all began. In 1897, Louis Renault established a small workshop at this family home to build a car for his own personal use. The Voiturette was finished by Christmas 1898, so Renault invited a few friends over to see how it would tackle the steep Rue Lepic in Paris. It featured a front-mounted engine and a direct-drive gearbox patented by Louis Renault. Having received 12 orders – not to mention a few down-payments – Renault pressed ahead with a production version. It was unveiled to the public in June 1899, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Renault Wind

The Renault Wind: gone, and almost forgotten. Although it was based on the Twingo, Renault went to extraordinary lengths to make this feel like a bespoke sports car. Every body panel was unique to the Wind, while the dashboard, centre console and door trims were new. Thanks to its low weight and Renault Sport suspension, it was also pretty good to drive. Yet it was a sales flop – Renault must have made a loss on every Wind it sold, certainly in the UK, where just 2,300 found homes. With a strong gust of wind behind it, the misunderstood Renault could have been a huge hit. Sadly, it flopped faster than a windsock in a light breeze.

Renault 4CV

The Renault 4CV was the pick-me-up the French needed after the Second World War. It was, if you like, Renault’s answer to the Volkswagen Beetle, powered by a rear-mounted engine and helping to mobilise an entire nation. Launched in 1946, production continued until 1961, by which time the 4CV had spawned countless variations, including a convertible and a formidable sports model. Jean Rédélé used the 4CV as the basis for his Alpine racers, inspiring the creation of the illustrious manufacturer of the same name.

Renault 4

If the 4CV was Renault’s answer to the Volkswagen Beetle, this was its response to the Citroen 2CV. Whisper this, but the Renault 4 was superior to the 2CV, offering a more practical interior, a conventional driving experience and a huge tailgate, before huge tailgates were a thing. More than eight million Renault 4s were sold, making it one of Europe’s most successful cars.

Renault 16

Talking about revolutions… The Renault 16 was a pioneering hatchback, introduced at a time when saloons ruled the highways and byways of Europe. Launched in 1965, the 16 was at least a decade ahead of the curve, pioneering the concept of a large, front-wheel-drive family hatch with the practicality of an estate car. One could even argue that the Renault 16 TX was a forerunner to the modern hot hatch.

Renault Twin’Run

The Renault Twin’Run paid homage to the 5 Turbo and Clio V6, but unlike its forebears, this crazy Twingo never made it beyond the concept stage. Which is a shame, because the rear-wheel-drive Twin’Run was powered by the Megane Trophy’s 3.5-litre V6 engine, which was enough to give it a top speed of 155mph. The 0-62mph time was polished off in just 4.5 seconds. The Twin’Run is a new radical we hoped Renault would build.

Renault Type AK

In 1906, France hosted the first Grand Prix. The 12-hour race took place on a closed public road circuit in Le Mans and was won by Hungarian Ferenc Szisz in a Renault AK. Since 1900, Szisz had been employed as an engineer and test pilot by Louis Renault, and this victory set the course for the company’s illustrious racing future. The Type AK featured turbocharging, pneumatic valves and exhaust blowing – all highly innovative for the period.

Renault 40CV NM

The Renault 40CV was built with one purpose: to set unbeatable land speed records. Powered by a 9.1-litre engine, the 40CV set a record at the Ile-de-France circuit, hitting an average speed of 110.9mph, before achieving a 24-hour record at 87.6mph. Later, with a more streamlined body and Renault’s first open radiator grille, the 40CV could hit speeds in excess of 120mph.

Renault Vel Satis

Another car from Renault’s crazy era. Which? labelled the Vel Satis “part large family hatchback, part MPV, part luxury express”, going on to claim that it was designed to be an upmarket version of the Laguna. There was one problem: the world didn’t want an upmarket Laguna. In fairness, the Vel Satis was comfortable, luxurious and well built, but only the French president truly appreciated it.

Renault Safrane Biturbo

Renault has a habit of building cars nobody wants – or needs. The Safrane Biturbo is a good case in point. Renault sent the 3.0-litre V6 version of its wafty saloon to German tuner Hartge, where a pair of turbochargers were installed to increase power to 268hp. This power was sent to the road via a Quadra all-wheel-drive system, with the Safrane also packing electronically adjustable shock absorbers. Finally, extra visual clout was applied courtesy of Irmscher. Nobody cared – just 806 Biturbos were built. Shame.

Renault Sport Megane R26.R

The Renault Sport Megane R26.R remains one of the greatest hot hatches in the world. Pistonheads called it a ‘front-drive Porsche GT3’, which is a great way of saying ‘hardcore Megane’. All but the essentials were stripped away in the name of lightness – no rear seats, no passenger, side or curtain airbags, no climate control and no radio. Even the glass for the rear and side windows was ditched in favour of polycarbonate. The result: the ultimate hot hatch.

Renault 900

The Espace wasn’t Renault’s first attempt at a people carrier. Back in 1959, Renault unveiled the 900, in which the passengers faced backwards. Power was sourced from a pair of Dauphine engines to create a V8 powertrain, while Ghia handled the unusual body styling. There were two versions: one with a rear screen that tilted up to provide access to the boot, and another with rear seats that folded forward for the same purpose. With the benefit of hindsight, the Espace was a better way forward for family motoring.

Renault AG1

The Renault AG1 was the first Parisian taxi, securing its place in French motoring history. Passengers could enjoy fine weather thanks to its convertible-top cabin. The AG1 became known as ‘The Taxi of the Marne’ – a reference to its role in the First Word War, when it transported soldiers to the River Marne in order to reach the front line.

Renault Etoile Filante

In 1956, Renault took the Etoile Filante to the Bonneville Salt Flats, where it hit an average 191mph over a kilometre and 192mph over 5km. Etoile Filante is French for shooting star – a fitting name for such a fast and record-breaking vehicle.

Renault Nervasport Des Records

A decade or so after the 40CV, Louis Renault tasked his team with building another record-breaking car. The rules were simple: the engine would be from a standard production car, while the body would be supported by a wooden frame on a standard chassis, with the bodywork crafted by an aeronautical engineer. After 48 hours, three minutes and 14 seconds, the Nervasport crossed the finishing line at Montlhery, breaking nine international records and three world records.

Renault Twingo

The original Twingo is the best Renault never sold in the UK. It boasted a monobox design to deliver unrivalled levels of interior space, along with sliding rear seats, with all four seats folding down to create a double bed. Its cheery appearance helped it achieve sales of more than two million.

Renault 5 prototype

We could go on. There are countless concept cars, racing cars and pre-war vehicles highlighting Renault’s innovative approach to motoring. But we’ll conclude with a glimpse of the future. The Renault 5 will be reborn in 2025 as an EV, and this stylish prototype shows (more-or-less) how it will look. An Alpine hot hatchback version is confirmed for production, too. Let’s hope the electric era brings more radical Renaults.