Renault

The Renault 30 TS debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1975 and marked a significant milestone as Renault’s first six-cylinder model since the pre-war era. It was powered by the new 2,664 cc V6 engine, jointly developed by Peugeot, Renault and Volvo. Eight months later, at the Paris Salon in November 1975, the Renault 20 was introduced. Essentially a larger successor to the Renault 16, it shared the same practical hatchback layout but was initially powered by a 1,647 cc four-cylinder engine derived from the Renault 16 TX. In November 1979, the R20 gained a 2,068 cc diesel engine, becoming Renault’s first production diesel passenger car. Although virtually identical in bodywork and general engineering, the two models were positioned differently: the Renault 30 served as the flagship with a larger engine and higher equipment levels, while the Renault 20 offered a more accessible alternative. They were easily distinguished by their front-end treatment, the R20 featuring two rectangular headlights and the R30 four round units. Despite their innovation and spaciousness, the Renault 20 and 30 struggled outside France, where hatchback bodywork and modest engine options limited their appeal in more conservative executive markets. As a result, more than 63 percent of total production - over 622,000 R20s and 145,000 R30s - was sold domestically. Production ended in October 1983, when both models were replaced by the Renault 25.

1978

1979