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Renault 18 Turbo - family car with pressure

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Created on December 11, 2019

Reading time 8min

Written by:

Daniel Koch

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Renault

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Renault

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv

Renault 18 Turbo (1981) - Schnörkelloses Design am R18

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Renault 18 Turbo (1981) -Turbo Schriftzug

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Renault 18 Turbo (1981) - Testfahrt in Frankreich

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Renault 18 Turbo (1981) - Der "Turbo" Schriftzug war damals sozusagen Pflicht

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Renault 18 Turbo (1981) - Schlichtes Heck mit Gummilippe

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Bild von Partner Planai Classic 2025 Inline 1

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Renault 18 Turbo (1981) - Funktionales Cockpit, ohne Kapriolen, wie es sich beispielsweise ein Citroën CX leistete

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Renault 18 Turbo (1981) - Rote Auslegeware ist heute auch eher selten in Autos anzutreffen

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Renault 18 Turbo (1981) - Funktionales Interieur

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Renault 18 Turbo (1981) - "Turbo"-Schriftzug und ein grosszügiges Spaltmass an der Türe

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Renault 18 Turbo (1981) - 14 Zoll Felgen vom Renault Fuego

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Renault 18 Turbo (1981) - Sportliche Limousinen hatten damals oft eine Gummilippe am Heck

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Renault 18 Turbo (1981) - Die Spaltmasse des Kofferraumdeckels und die Passgenauigkeit des Heckspoilers sehen für heutige Verhältnisse abenteuerlich aus

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Renault 18 Turbo (1981) - Auch am Heck gab sich der R18 deutlich als "Turbo" zu erkennen

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Renault 18 (1979) - bei frühen Testfahrten

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Renault 18 Break (1979) - grosszügig verglaste Heckpartie - Genfer Automobilsalon 1979

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Renault 18 Break (1979) - weitaus originellster Kombiwagen - Genfer Automobilsalon 1979

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Renault 18 GTS (1980) - Pressefoto zur Vorstellung in Spanien

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Renault 18 GTS (1979) - Bilder aus einem Testbericht von damals

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Renault 18 Turbo (1981) - Die Métallic-Lackierung gab es gegen Aufpreis

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Renault 18 GTX Type 2 (1984) - Direkt vor dem Eiffelturm in Paris

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Renault 18 GTX Type 2 (1984) - In Paris parkiert

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Renault 18 (1981) - Mit Faltdach wurde der R18 zum luftigen Vergnügen

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Renault 18 (1981) - Mit knapp 4.40 Meter Länge passt der R18 gut auf einen normalen Parkplatz

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Renault 18 (1980) - R18 in der GTS Ausstattung

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Renault 18 (1978) - Renault - Die Nationalmarke

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Renault 18 (1978) - Schnörkellose Erscheinung

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Renault 18 (1981) - Vier Personen finden ausreichend Platz im R18

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Renault 18 (1983) - Turbo-Diesel Variante

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Renault 18 (1980) - Der R18 wird getestet

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Renault 18 (1981) - Die erste französische Marke der Welt

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Renault 18 (1981) - Auf dem Weg zum Kunden

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Renault 18 (1981) - Renault verwendete selbstverständlich Lastwagen aus eigener Produktion

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Renault 18 (1982) - Der R18 in der US-Ausführung neben einem "Le Car", wie der R5 in den USA hiess

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Renault 18 (1981) - In den USA bei AMC für den amerikanischen Markt gebaut

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Renault 18 (1981) - US-Version mit Seitenreflektoren

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Renault 18 (1981) - Die klobigen Stossstangen hinten und vorne waren den amerikanischen Gesetzen geschuldet

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Renault 18 (1981) - AMC baute die US-Modelle 18i mit den geänderten Scheinwerfern

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Renault (1983) - Die Marke wurde in Frankreich auch im öffentlichen Dienst eingesetzt

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Renault 18 (1980) - Werbung aus Frankreich

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Renault 18 (1979) - Werbung aus Frankreich

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Renault-Alpine A442B (1978) - damit haben Jassaud und Pironi beim 24-Stunden-Rennen von Le Mans gesiegt - Genfer Automobilsalon 1979

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Renault RS10 (1979) - gewann vor 40 Jahren den ersten Grand Prix - Genfer Automobilsalon 2019

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Ein schön erhaltener Renault 18 - schon lange nicht mehr gesehen - Dolder Classics Juni 2015

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Summary

At the start of sales in 1978, the Renault 18 was offered with engines that produced a modest 64 or 79 hp. With the advent of the turbo wave, however, the French gave the R18 a 1.6-liter 1980 turbocharged petrol engine, which resulted in a remarkable output of 109 and later 125 hp. Although this did not turn the saloon into a sports car, it did make it a fast touring car with impressive torque at low revs. This report is dedicated to the Renault 18 Turbo with 110 hp and shows it and its relatives in current and historical photos.

This article contains the following chapters

Benefiting from Formula 1
Extensive standard equipment in the Turbo
The turbo engine was well received
High torque and still pleasant to drive today
But not as good as BMW, Audi and VW?
Praised USA version
Drinking habits judged differently
The footsteps were big

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The R18 replaced the R12 in 1978, which had already been on the market for almost ten years. Initially, there was a choice of two petrol engines with a capacity of 1.4 and 1.6 liters and an output of 64 and 79 hp. At 4.394 meters, the R18 was only slightly longer than its predecessor, but it was eight centimeters wider and, at 1020 kilograms, also weighed a little more. The saloon was supplemented in 1979 by an estate, which was given the name "Break" for the Swiss market, but was called "Variable" in Germany. From 1983, the Break was even available with all-wheel drive built by Steyr-Daimler-Puch. In the 1979 Automobil Revue catalog, the front-wheel-drive Break was listed at CHF 15,500, which was equivalent to DM 16,538 at the time. The sedan cost between CHF 12,500 and 17,590 (equivalent to DM 13,337 and 18,768). A four- or five-speed gearbox was used, with an automatic gearbox available for an extra charge.

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