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Renault 5 Turbo - Founder of a new era

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Created on December 20, 2015

Reading time 9min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Renault

Bruno von Rotz

Renault Communication

Balz Schreier

Petra Sagnak / classiccar-photo.de

Archiv Bernhard Brägger

Christian Heuser

FabPetersson Fotografie

Rudolf Menzi

Michael Alschner

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Renault

Bruno von Rotz

Renault Communication

Balz Schreier

Petra Sagnak / classiccar-photo.de

Archiv Bernhard Brägger

Christian Heuser

FabPetersson Fotografie

Rudolf Menzi

Michael Alschner

Archiv

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - mit Gotti-Rädern

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - die Fahrt im kompakten R5 Turbo macht Spass

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - unterwegs in der einbrechenden Nacht

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - einsteigen und losfahren

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - richtig eingeparkt

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - kurz mit sehr kurzen Überhängen

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - die breiten Gotti-Räder stehen dem R5 gut

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - findet trotz seiner Breite gut Platz auf einem Parkfeld

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - der Mittelmotorsportwagen im Schlosshof

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - die Schweller und die Heckschürze sind nicht im selben Farbton gehalten wie die anderen Karosserieteile

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - was die zwei da hinten wohl lesen?

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - breit sein ist alles

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - die Karosserie besteht aus Alublech, Stahlblech und Kunststoff

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - wie in der Boxengasse

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - strikt für zwei Personen

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - ist die Nummer 6/2015 von SwissClassics wirklich interessanter als der Renault

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - die blauen Teppiche und die roten Sitze kontrastieren

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - die Innenraumgestaltung entstand bei Bertone

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - der Turbo 1 hatte ein eigens für ihn entwickeltes Interieur

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - gewöhnungsbedürfitge Muster und Farben

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - das Lenkrad entstammt nicht der Serie, normalerweise war ein Kunststoff-Lenkrad verbaut

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - unter 3000 Umdrehungen tut sich wenig

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - die Ablesbarkeit der Instrumente ist nicht optimal

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - jeder Wagen wurde nummeriert

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - längs eingebauter Vierzylinder im Heck

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - hier geht es heiss zu

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - das Werkzeug ist auf der Hutablage untergebracht

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - vie Platz fasst der Kofferraum nicht

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - Renault-Rhombus auf dem Bug

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - breite hintere Kotflügel

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - Luft für den Turbo-Motor

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - die Lampen wurden beibehalten

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - breite Backen und ein unübersehbarer Turbo-Schriftzug

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - Entlüftungen hinten

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - derselbe Schriftzug fand sich auch auf den schmalbrüstigen Frontantriebsmodellen

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - die Verkaufsliteratur

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Renault 5 Turbo (1979) - in Szene gesetzt

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Renault 5 Turbo (1979) - die Mittelmotorvariante

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Renault 5 Turbo (1979) - Heckansicht - breite Backen

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Renault 5 Turbo (1980) - Interieur by Bertone

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Renault 5 Turbo (1979) - Blick ins Cockpit

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Renault 5 Turbo (1980) - aus dem Verkaufsprospekt

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Renault 5 Turbo (1980) - Durchsichtszeichnung

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Renault R5 Turbo - Die siegreichen Ragnotti/Andrié am Rallye Monte Carlo 1981

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Renault 5 Turbo (1983) - mit Jean-Marc André und Jean Ragnotti

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Renault 5 Turbo (1984) - die Version für den Rennsport

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Renault Maxi 5 Turbo (1985) - 350 PS mit 1,5 Liter grossem Turbo-Vierzylinder - Einsatz im Rallye-Sport - Genfer Automobilsalon 1985

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Renault 5 Turbo (1981) - Cup-Lauf in Dijon 1981

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Renault R5 Turbo - Mit dem Sieg hatten die früher erfolgreichen Renault R5 am Rallye Monte Carlo 1984 nichts mehr zu tun

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Renault R5 Turbo - Die Renault R5 Turbo waren nicht auf den vordesten Plätzen der Rallye Monte Carlo 1983 zu finden

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Renault 5 Turbo - Saby auf dem Renault Turbo bei der Rallye Monte Carlo 1982

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Renault 5 Alpine Turbo - limitierte Sonderversion namens "Gordini" - am Genfer Automobilsalon 1984

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Renault 5 Turbo (1983) - Lauf zur französischen Tourenwagen-Meisterschaft in Paul Ricard - Jean Ragnotti

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Renault R5 Turbo Corse (1982) - besonders sportliche Version

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Renault 5 Turbo (1985) - im Rallye-Einsatz

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Renault 5 Turbo mit Marc Surer am Steuer anlässlich des Gotthard Rallyes von 1982

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Renault R5 Turbo (1981) - Uelliger und Schneiter erreichen den zweiten Rang beim 9. Gotthard Rallye 1982 - hier auf der schmalen Abwärtsprüfung am Sustenpass mit Schotter und einigen extremen Spitzkehren

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - Jean Ragnotti bei einer Renault Classic Show im Jahr 2011

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Renault 5 Maxi Turbo (1985) - als Gruppe B Rallye Auto

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Renault R5 Turbo 2 (1986) - Arosa ClassicCar Bergrennen 2015

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Renault 5 Turbo (1981) - Aufmarsch der Mittelmotor-Renaults

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Renault R5 Turbo (1982) - Arosa ClassicCar Bergrennen 2015

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Renault 5 Turbo (1984) am Eifel Rallye Festival 2015

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Renault 5 Turbo 1 (1981) am Eifel Rallye Festival 2015 - Ein seltener Turbo1-Renault gebaut von Alpine

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Renault 5 turbo 2 (1985) - am Michaelskreuzrennen 2014

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Renault 5 Maxi Turbo (1986) - am ADAC Eifel Rallye Festival 2014

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Renault 5 Turbo (1984) - am ADAC Eifel Rallye Festival 2014

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Renault 5 Turbo 2 (1986) - an der Lenzerheide Motorclassics 2015

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Renault 5 Turbo 2 (1986) - an der Veranstaltung Lenzerheide Motor Classics 2014

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Renault 5 Turbo 2 (1986) - Teilnehmer bei der Lenzerheide Motor Classics 2013

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Renault R5 Turbo am Kunststoffauto-Treffen Fantastic Plastic 2014

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Renault 5 Turbo (1979) - beim Rennen zur Youngtimer Touring Car Challenge - Hockenheim Historics 2014

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) am Treffen der Gruppe B Legenden in Salzburg am 13. September 2013

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Renault 5 Maxi Turbo Gruppe B (1985) in der Gruppe «40 Jahre Rallyeweltmeisterschaft» am Eifel Rallye Festival 2013

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Renault 5 Turbo Gruppe 4 (1981) in der Gruppe «40 Jahre Rallyeweltmeisterschaft» am Eifel Rallye Festival 2013

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Renault R5 Turbo (1976) - am GP Furttal 2013

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Renault 5 Turbo 1 (1981) mit Startnummer 331 - GT und Tourenwagen an der 5. Bergprüfung Altbüron 2011

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Renault 5 Turbo (1982) - man spürt die Rallye-Gene beim Fahren

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Summary

In 1980, Renault presented the R5 Turbo mid-engine compact car, the development of which dated back to 1976. With over 5,000 units built, this basic model for racing in Group 4 and B is one of the most successful cars of its kind. And even today, over 30 years later, the mid-engined speedster is still a lot of fun behind the wheel. This vehicle report tells the story of the Renault 5 Turbo, explains the technology used and shows the car in current and historical pictures as well as in two sales brochures.

This article contains the following chapters

In the footsteps of the Berlinette
Mid-engine
Racing technology under the sheet metal
Individuality of the Turbo 1
Dual character
More agile than the Quattro and 911
Off the beaten track
Evolution and simplifications to the Turbo 2
Rally genes in everyday life
Production and special models
Further information

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

At the end of the seventies, the days of the glorious Lancia Stratos came to an end and more production-oriented Ford Escort, Fiat 131 Abarth or Talbot Sunbeam Lotus moved into the limelight with their victories. Renault, however, believed in the Stratos concept and in 1980 presented a basic rally car with a mid-engine, the Renault 5 Turbo, typically equipped with a turbo engine for the brand. The R5 Turbo was developed in 1976 by rally driver Jean Terramorsi, who wanted to provide international rallying with a successor to the famous Renault Alpine A110 and R8 Gordini for Group 3 and 4. In close cooperation with the "Renault Sport" department based in Dieppe and the Renault production department in Paris, the first prototype of the Renault 5 Turbo was created as early as 1978. For the design, the services of Bertone were used, where Marcello Gandini in particular lent a hand. The production model with the most promising dimensions was chosen as the starting point, and the Renault 5, which had already enjoyed success as a compact all-purpose car since 1971, was chosen. The first presentation took place at the Paris Motor Show in October 1978 with a second prototype (without engine) built by Heuliez and painted red.

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