Renault Car Production By Model : 1980-89

Renault started the decade with a better production total than it finished with. In 1980 it had six models exceeding 100,000 but only three within that ten years. The successful R5 was still selling well but had understandably slipped. The R19 replaced the R9/11 with less success as it's predecessor. The 21 replaced the R18 with the same result. The R25 matched the R20/30 but that's all. The rest were older models lingering.

After the production numbers below is a brief summary of models that came out in this period.

		R5	R19	R21	R25	R4	R12	R9
								R11
	1980	710,729	-	-	-	241,644	121,971	-
	1981	625,413	-	-	-	177,660	72,354	73,618
	1982	531,382	-	-	-	182,246	44,976	488,550
	1983	456,659	-	-	-	173,902	52,011	815,482
	1984	352,542	-	-	118,561	127,658	44,278	728,965
	1985	498,216	-	-	136,971	105,965	29,232	561,193
	1986	516,105	-	283,779	99,822	88,292	38,462	424,915
	1987	550,697	-	370,349	95,869	76,950	51,655	384,634
	1988	599,169	122,027	325,919	103,445	70,260	49,614	261,709
	1989	557,191	536,040	279,147	96,022	62,882	50,143	48,167

		Espace	R18	R6	R20	R14	Total
			Fuego		R30
	1980	-	427,762	29,255	104,447	201,894	1,837,702
	1981	-	398,704	19,321	79,154	133,703	1,579,927
	1982	-	340,536	12,935	74,368	68,717	1,743,710
	1983	-	278,541	13,622	52,034	4,206	1,846,457
	1984	5,745	194,962	5,535	241	-	1,578,487
	1985	14,160	102,879	2,826		-	1,451,442
	1986	19,398	37,048	1,689	-	-	1,509,510
	1987	23,482	19,396	-	-	-	1,573,032
	1988	31,693	14,586	-	-	-	1,578,422
	1989	44,024	11,322	-	-	-	1,684,938

Data source: Freyssenet.com

R25: This executive car was the top of the range for Renault. It was aerodynamic and a nice drive but if people wanted a more premium car, they wanted the badge too.

The R25 was quite nicely styled

Espace: The MPV was originally designed by Chrysler UK, the company was sold to PSA before it could go any further. They didn't want to develop it and it was handed on the Matra, who made it for Renault. It took a while to be accepted, as new ideas often do.

R21: As a large family car, it replaced the R18 and was moderately successful. I thought the design was ordinary.

R19: It replaced the R9/11 ands was the last Renault to go by a number. It was a reasonably good car and sold reasonably well.

The R19 was pleasant and but perhaps too much so

Summary: Renault cars had become less exciting and exciting was the reason for buying a French car. A more flamboyant approach was needed, and soon.