Renault Super 5

The Renault Super 5 (also known as the Renault 5, Supercinque or Supercinco) is a supermini (B-segment) car produced by the French manufacturer Renault between 1984 and 1996. Its design was inspired by the profile of the Renault 5, although it is slightly longer and lower, as it was conceived to replace it in the French brand's range. For this reason, it is also known as the Renault 5; in fact, this is the name that always appeared on the rear of the model.

The car has a length of 3,590 mm (141.3 in) (3,750 mm (147.6 in) with 5 doors), a width of 1,590 mm (62.6 in), a height of 1,390 mm (54.7 in) and a wheelbase of 2,407 mm (94.8 in) (2,467 mm (97.1 in) with 5 doors). The weight, depending on the version, ranges from 760 to 860 kg (1,676 to 1,896 lb).

Over twelve years, Renault produced more than three million units at its plants in Billancourt, Dieppe and Flins-sur-Seine (France); Brussels and Vilvoorde (Belgium); Palencia (Spain); Setúbal (Portugal); Mariara (Venezuela) and, from 1989, Novo Mesto (Slovenia). Approximately 500,000 vehicles were assembled annually, a figure that gradually decreased from 1990, so that by the time production ended in 1996, a total of 3,436,650 units had been manufactured. In terms of sales, 1988 was the best year, with 518,910 vehicles sold across Europe. There were twenty-two versions, as well as more than thirty-five limited editions. Its commercial rivals included models such as the Citroën AX, the Ford Fiesta, the Opel Corsa, the Peugeot 205, the SEAT Ibiza and the Volkswagen Polo, among others.

The development of the Renault Super 5 began in 1978 and was codenamed Project 140. The plan lasted for more than six years, as the proposals presented lacked the necessary consensus to be carried out. This situation remained unchanged until the designer Marcello Gandini, who authored many Italian sports cars of the 1960s and 1970s, joined the project. His proposal was simple: to adapt the R5 to the new needs of the automotive market. To do this, he applied the technique that luxury brands had been using for decades: creating a vehicle whose appearance reminded one of its predecessor, which already had public favour.

The Super 5 is based on the chassis of the Renault 9/11, so it has greater interior space than its predecessor. It is front-wheel drive and its petrol engine is in a transverse front-engine layout; the range includes from the 1.1-litre displacement, two valves per cylinder and 48 bhp maximum power of the C version to the 1.4-litre displacement, two valves per cylinder and 120 bhp maximum power of the GT Turbo versions. The top speed of the Super 5 was achieved by the GT Turbo2 model, with 204 km/h (127 mph) and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8 seconds.

Between 1986 and 1991, the 5 GT version participated in the World Rally Championship, until it was replaced by the Renault Clio Williams. Notable drivers who competed with it include Gustavo Trelles, Jean Ragnotti and Alain Oreille; the latter was twice champion of the World Rally Championship for Production Cars (1989 and 1990) at the wheel of a Super 5 GT Turbo, in addition to obtaining victory with it in the 1989 Rallye Côte d'Ivoire. It has also competed in continental, national and regional championships.

Over the years, for some it has become an icon of the 1980s. Numerous associations attest to this and many people still drive one of these French utility cars daily. However, various factors, such as the time that elapsed between its launch and the arrival of the Clio, the variety in the sector at the time as well as the similarity of its design to the R5, meant that it did not become as memorable a vehicle as its predecessor. Even so, it is present in multiple collections of scale model cars and has appeared in songs, in cinema, on television and in some video games.