Renault

The Renault 15 and Renault 17 were closely related coupés produced by Renault between July 1971 and August 1979, effectively serving as sporting derivatives of the Renault 12. Both models were unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October 1971 and shared their chassis and much of their mechanical layout with the R12. The principal visual differences lay in their front-end treatment and side glazing: the Renault 15 featured two rectangular headlamps, while the Renault 17 was distinguished by four round headlights and a more elaborate rear quarter window design. Mechanically, the range covered both modest and more performance-oriented versions. The more powerful 17 TS and 17 Gordini were equipped with the 1,565 cc engine derived from the Renault 16 TS, producing 108 hp. In 1974, the 17 TS was renamed the 17 Gordini, primarily as a marketing move following the discontinuation of the Renault 12 Gordini, without significant technical changes. At the same time, TS and Automatic variants received a slightly enlarged 1,605 cc engine. Production of both models ended in August 1979, and they were succeeded by the Renault Fuego, introduced in March 1980. In total, 209,887 Renault 15s and 94,969 Renault 17s were built, although relatively few survive today.