Renault 5 Alpine
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- See also Renault 5 Alpine Turbo, and Renault 5 Turbo - the mid-engined supercar.
The Renault 5 Alpine/Gordini was one of the first true hot-hatches. Its launch in 1976 pre-dated that of the Volkswagen Golf GTI by a year.
Notable features included:
- 1397 cc OHV engine - based on the Renault "Sierra" pushrod engine, but having hemispherical combustion chambers
- Crossflow cylinder head
- It developed 93 bhp (69 kW) - twice as much as a standard 1108 cc R5!
- Special alloy wheels and styled interior
- 5 speed gearbox, front-wheel drive
- Stiffened suspension (still torsion bar all round)
In England, the car was sold as the Renault 5 Gordini - Sunbeam already had the rights to the name "Alpine". Amédée Gordini was a French tuner often known as "Le Sorcier" or "The Wizard".
The car sold fairly well, but was a little outpaced by the time the Golf GTI arrived. To counteract this, it was replaced by the Renault 5 Alpine Turbo in 1982.
[edit] External links
- r5gordini.co.uk - Renault 5 Site, specialising in the Gordini and Gordini Turbo
- www.renault-5.net - French site devoted to the world of the Renault 5
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