Bric à Brac
Change of colour
Especially for the tennis championships at Roland Garros in Paris, Renault provided the electric 4 and 5 with a change of colour.
We are familiar with the concept car of the electric Renault 5 in a bright yellow paint colour. This is how this car has been seen at numerous car shows. But for its presentation at Roland Garros, this model was completely repainted in white and fittingly fitted with Roland Garros emblems.
The same fate awaited the Renault 4Ever Trophy presented at the Paris Salon last October. Here, too, the news is just the colour. Everything that was previously finished in matt metallic grey has now been given a glossy green paint job, which immediately gives it a different look. Also, the purple/pink details have now turned yellow. When this concept of the future Renault 4 came out from under the canvas, it was immediately told that the design of the light parts, i.e. say the actual bodywork, is pretty close to the final production model, but that the chunky wheels and the heavily expanded bumpers, mudguards and sills are from the designers' imagination.
Renault adopted Peugeot's long-standing sponsorship tradition at Roland Garros.
Premier for the wind tunnel
Spanish tractors
Do you remember this one?
Premier for the wind tunnel
With the launch to the American press of the Renault Premier in 1987, our brand's history in that country comes to an end. Based on the floor pan of the Renault 21 with the PRV V6, American Motors (AMC) together with Renault then had an asset, which, however, never made it to market as a Renault. Pictured below is the wind tunnel model of this large sedan. Two of these were made, of which this one remained with Renault.
Spanish tractors
Before World War II, Renault was already selling tractors in Spain. But during the period from late 1968 to late 1975, tractors were even assembled in that country.
Four different models were assembled there. The Super 7E was followed by the 57E, both with Perkins engine type P4.203E. The former was available even after production had already ceased in France. Furthermore, the Renault 86E (M.W.M.) was made from 1969 to 1975 and the 88E (Perkins and thus different from the French 88 with Renault/Alfa diesel) from 1971 to 1973. Of course, the letter E stands for España. The tractors did not come out off the Valladolid factory, but were built under licence by S.A.M.A. Renault in Burgos.
Photo: A Renault 88E with a Spanish Zaragoza cabin.
Do you remember this one?
In some countries and continents, models that have long fallen into oblivion with us are still being produced.
Look closely at the big, blue bus version of the van pictured at the left. Is there anything that looks familiar. No, don't sneak a peek at the picture below.
This is the Tata Winger modernised last year, a van and derivative variants that have been built in India for the local market for many years. The picture below is of the same van but before the facelift. Much to our surprise, we find that this is the first generation Renault Trafic, which was built and delivered continuously in Europe from 1980 until the year 2000. Then the second edition of Renault's middle van (Trafic II) appeared.
Third appearance
We have known the current Trafic again since 2014 and it is the third appearance.
The Tata Winger has been produced in India since 2007 and has its own Tata 4 cylinder turbo diesel. There are short and long, low and high variants, fire engines and a school bus. The diesel was originally a 2-litre with or without a turbo. The latest version has a 2.2-litre Euro6 variant.