Editing Renault (section)

===Modern era (1972–1980)===
[[File:Renault 5 Turbo 2 - Coupe Florio 2015 01.jpg|left|thumb|Renault 5 Turbo]]
[[File:1972 Renault 17TS in Yellow, front right (Lime Rock).jpg|thumb|1972 [[Renault 17]]TS coupe]]
[[File:Juan María Traverso Renault Fuego GTX TC 2000 1986.jpg|thumb|The [[Renault Fuego]] won 8 consecutive championships in the Argentinian [[TC 2000 Championship|TC 2000]] touring car racing series between 1986 and 1993.]]
The company's compact and economical [[Renault 5]] model, launched in January 1972,<ref name=Automobilia1972>{{cite journal|first = René | last = Bellu|title=Automobilia|journal=Toutes les Voitures Françaises 1972 (Salon [Oct] 1971)|volume=76s|pages=50|year=2005|publisher=Histoire & collections|location=Paris}}</ref> was another success, anticipating the [[1973 energy crisis]].<ref name="IDCH"/> The  [[Renault 18]] was introduced in 1978 and the larger [[Renault 20]] in 1975.

During the mid-seventies, the already broad-based company diversified into more industries and continued to expand globally, including [[South East Asia]]. The energy crisis led Renault to again attempt to attack the North American market. Despite the Dauphine's success in the United States in the late 1950s and an unsuccessful assembly project in [[Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec]] (1964–72), Renault began to disappear from North America at the end of the decade.

Renault acquired a controlling stake in [[Automobiles Alpine]] in 1973, and over the decades, Renault developed a collaborative partnership with [[Nash Motors]] [[Nash Rambler|Rambler]] and its successor [[American Motors Corporation]] (AMC). From 1962 until 1967, Renault assembled [[complete knock down]] (CKD) kits of the [[Rambler Classic]] sedans in its factory in Belgium.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.renault.com/fr/passionsport/pages/renault-meconnues.aspx |title=Renault Meconnues |publisher=Renault |language=fr |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130918235648/http://www.renault.com/fr/passionsport/pages/renault-meconnues.aspx |archive-date=18 September 2013 |access-date=12 July 2022}}</ref> Renault did not have large or luxury cars in its product line and the "Rambler Renault" was positioned as an alternative to the [[Mercedes-Benz Heckflosse|Mercedes-Benz "Fintail"]] cars. Later, Renault continued to make and sell a hybrid of AMC's [[Rambler American]] and [[Rambler Classic]] called the [[Renault Torino]] in Argentina (sold through IKA-Renault). Renault partnered with AMC on other projects, such as a rotary concept engine in the late 1960s.

In the late 1960s and 1970s, the company established subsidiaries in [[Eastern Europe]], most notably [[Dacia (car)|Dacia]] in Romania, and [[Industrias Kaiser Argentina|South America]] (many of which remain active) and forged technological cooperation agreements with [[Volvo]] and [[Peugeot]],<ref name=DTI>{{cite journal|date=October 1982|title=Fourth Section: Manufacturer's profile|journal=Transit Bus Manufacturer Profiles|publisher=U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Urban Mass Transportation Administration, Office of Technical Assistance, Office of Bus and Paratransit Systems|location=Washington DC|pages=128–137|oclc=9384438}}</ref> (for instance, for the development of the [[PRV engine|PRV]] [[V6]] engine, which was used in [[Renault 30]], [[Peugeot 604]], and [[Volvo 200 series|Volvo 260]] in the late 1970s).
In the mid-1960s, Renault Australia was set up in Melbourne. The company produced and assembled models including the R8, R10, R12, R16, sporty R15, R17 coupes, R18, and R20. The unit closed in 1981 and the factory closed with LNC Industries taking over import and distribution of Renaults in Australia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australian Motor Vehicle Manufacture |url=http://www.pocketoz.com.au/afe/motoring-manufacture2.html |access-date=2022-06-21 |website=pocketoz.com.au |archive-date=16 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816232416/https://www.pocketoz.com.au/afe/motoring-manufacture2.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

When Peugeot acquired Citroën and formed [[Groupe PSA|PSA]], the group's collaboration with Renault was reduced, although established joint production projects were maintained. Prior its merging with Peugeot, Citroën sold to Renault the truck and bus manufacturer [[Berliet]]<ref name=DTI/> in December 1974,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.lepoint.fr/automobile/paul-berliet-itineraire-d-un-modeste-geant-10-08-2012-1494758_646.php |title=Paul Berliet : itinéraire d'un modeste géant|trans-title=Paul Berliet: itinerary of a modest giant|last=Chevallier|first=Jacques|work=Le Point|date=21 August 2012|access-date=21 September 2018}}</ref> merging it with its subsidiary Saviem in 1978 to create [[Renault Trucks|Renault Véhicules Industriels]], which became the only French manufacturer of heavy commercial vehicles.<ref name=TT/><ref name=CBTT/> In 1976, Renault reorganised the company into four business areas: automobiles (for car and [[light commercial vehicles]] or LCVs), finance and services, commercial vehicles (coaches and trucks over 2.5 [[Metric ton|tons]] [[Gross vehicle weight rating|GVW]]), and minor operations under an industrial enterprises division (farm machinery, plastics, foundry, etc.). In 1980, Renault produced 2,053,677 cars and LCVs. The cars at the time were the Renault 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 30; the LCVs were the 4, 5, and 12 Société and the Estafette. The company added 54,086 buses/coaches and trucks.<ref name=DTI/>

In North America, Renault partnered with [[American Motors Corporation]] (AMC), lending AMC operating capital and buying a minority 22.5% stake in the company in late 1979. The first Renault model sold through AMC's dealerships was the R5, renamed Renault Le Car. [[Jeep]] was keeping AMC afloat until new products, particularly the [[Jeep XJ|XJ Cherokee]], could be launched. When the bottom fell out of the [[four-wheel drive]] (4×4) truck market in early 1980, AMC was in danger of bankruptcy. To protect its investment, Renault bailed AMC out with cash – at the price of a controlling 47.5% interest.<ref name=TCAMAIH>{{cite book|last=Cranswick|first=Marc|title=The Cars of American Motors: An Illustrated History|year=2011 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-4672-8|pages= [https://archive.org/details/carsofamericanmo0000cran/page/279 279–295] |chapter=Kenosha Serves Cafe au Lait! |chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/carsofamericanmo0000cran/page/279}}</ref> Renault replaced some AMC executives, and [[Jose Dedeurwaerder]] of Renault became President of AMC.<ref name="IDCH"/>

The partnership resulted in the marketing of Jeep vehicles in Europe.<ref name="IDCH"/> The Jeep XJ Cherokee may have been a joint AMC/Renault project since some early sketches of the XJ series were made in collaboration by Renault and AMC engineers (AMC insisted that the XJ Cherokee was designed by AMC personnel; even though a former Renault engineer designed the Quadra-Link front suspension for the XJ series).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.automobilemag.com/features/lists/0604_jeep_cherokee/|title=Jeep Cherokee in " 20 greatest cars "|work=automobilemag.com|publisher=Automobile Magazine TEN|date=15 March 2006|access-date=28 April 2015|archive-date=17 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417095917/http://www.automobilemag.com/features/lists/0604_jeep_cherokee/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Jeep also used wheels and seats from Renault. Part of AMC's overall strategy was to save manufacturing costs by using Renault's parts and engineering expertise when practical. This led to the improvement of the venerable [[AMC Straight-6 engine|AMC inline six]] – a Renault/Bendix-based port electronic [[fuel injection]] system (usually called [[Renix]]) transformed it into a modern, competitive powerplant with a jump from {{convert|110|to|177|hp|abbr=on}} with less displacement (from 4.2 to 4.0 litres). The XJC Cherokee concept, which was conceived in 1983 as a successor to the XJ series, was also a joint collaboration with AMC and Renault engineers until the design was inherited by the [[Chrysler Corporation]] in late 1987 after Renault divested AMC – which debuted in 1989 as the Jeep Concept 1 (evolving into the [[Jeep Grand Cherokee]] in April 1992).

The Renault-AMC marketing effort in passenger cars was unsuccessful compared to the popularity of Jeep vehicles. This was because, by the time the Renault range was ready, the [[1979 energy crisis|second energy crisis]] was over, taking with it much of the desire for economical, compact cars. One exception was the [[Renault Alliance]] (an Americanised version of the [[Renault 9]]), which debuted for the 1983 model year. Assembled at AMC's [[Kenosha, Wisconsin]] plant,<ref name=TCAMAIH/> the Alliance received ''[[Motor Trend]]''{{'}}s domestic [[Motor Trend Car of the Year|Car of The Year]] award in 1983.<ref name="Renault car of the year USA">{{cite magazine|url= http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/car/car_of_the_year_winners/ |title=Car of the Year Winners, 1983 AMC Renault Alliance |magazine=Motor Trend |access-date=2015-03-08 |archive-date=3 April 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150403220707/http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/car/car_of_the_year_winners/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Alliance's 72% US content allowed it to qualify as a domestic vehicle, making it the first car with a foreign nameplate to win the award. (In 2000, ''Motor Trend'' did away with separate awards for domestic and imported vehicles.) A surprising side effect of the AMC linkup was that Renault felt the effects of the [[Arab League boycott of Israel|Arab League boycott]] of companies doing business with Israel, as AMC built Jeeps there under license. Plans to sell the Renault 9 in the Middle East were mothballed as a result.<ref name=AG78a>{{cite magazine |ref=AG78 |magazine=De AutoGids |number=78 |volume= 3|page=73 |title=Franz Rekenhof bezorgd over Renault |trans-title=France's Court of Audit worried about Renault |first=Vic |last=Heylen |language=nl-be |date=16 September 1982 |location=Brussels, Belgium}}</ref>

Introductions in the US during the 1980s included the Renault Alliance GTA and GTA convertible – an automatic-top convertible with a 2.0 L engine – big for a car of its class and the [[Renault Fuego]] coupé. The Alliance was followed by the [[Renault Encore|Encore]] (US version of the [[Renault 11]]), an Alliance-based hatchback.<ref name=TCAMAIH/> In 1982, Renault become the second European automaker to build cars in the US, after [[Volkswagen]]. However, bland styling and poor product quality proved insurmountable.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McGee Wilson |first1=John |last2=Thomas |first2=Howard |last3=Wilson |first3=David |title=Strategy: Analysis and Practice |date=2010 |publisher=McGraw Hill |isbn=9780077148232 |page=639 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=-IVvEAAAQBAJ&dq=Renault+in+US+customer+complaints+about+poor+quality&pg=PA639 |access-date=12 July 2022}}</ref>

Eventually, Renault sold AMC to [[Chrysler Corporation|Chrysler]] in 1987 after the assassination of Renault's chairman, [[Georges Besse]] by [[Action directe (armed group)|Action directe]].<ref name="IDCH"/> The [[Renault Medallion]] (Renault 21 in Europe) sedan and wagon was sold from 1987 until 1989 through [[Jeep-Eagle]] dealerships. Jeep-Eagle was the division Chrysler created out of the former AMC. Renault imports ended after 1989. A completely new [[Full-size car|full-sized]] 4-door sedan, the [[Eagle Premier]], was developed during the partnership between AMC and Renault. The Premier design, as well as its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in [[Bramalea, Ontario]], Canada, were the starting point for the sleek [[Chrysler LH platform|LH sedans]] such as the [[Eagle Vision]] and [[Chrysler 300M]].

In early 1979, as part of its attempts to expand into the US market, Renault bought a 20% stake in truck manufacturer [[Mack Trucks|Mack]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Renault buys a slice of the Mack action |magazine=Truck & Bus Transportation |date=July 1979 |page=51}}</ref><ref name=RCICIUSJWE>{{cite book|last=Hart |first=Jeffrey A. |title=Rival Capitalists: International Competitiveness in the United States, Japan, and Western Europe |year=1992 |series=Cornell studies in political economy |publisher=Cornell University Press |chapter=France |isbn=0-8014-9949-6 |page= [https://archive.org/details/rivalcapitalists00hart_0/page/119 119] |chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/rivalcapitalists00hart_0/page/119}}</ref> The aim of this operation was to make use of the company's extensive dealership network to distribute light trucks.<ref name=TMC>{{cite web|url= https://www.mcall.com/1990/10/02/renaults-buyout-of-mack-puts-bite-back-in-the-bulldog/|title=Renault's Buyout of Mack Puts Bite Back in the Bulldog |last=Shope |first=Dan |website=[[The Morning Call]] |date=2 October 1990 |access-date=1 August 2013 |archive-date=27 August 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130827201720/http://articles.mcall.com/1990-10-02/business/2778115_1_mack-s-shares-renault-vehicules-industriels-mack-s-stock |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1983, Renault increased its stake in Mack to 44.6%.<ref name=RCICIUSJWE/><ref name=TMC/> In 1987, it transferred the ownership of a 42% stake to Renault Véhicules Industriels.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/1987/05/28/mack-shares-shifted-at-renault/|title=Mack Shares Shifted at Renault|last=Shope|first=Dan |website=[[The Morning Call]] |date=28 May 1987 |access-date=1 August 2013 |archive-date=18 August 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130818135202/http://articles.mcall.com/1987-05-28/business/2574683_1_renault-vehicules-industriels-rvi-mack-trucks |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Renault increased its involvement in motorsport, with novel inventions such as [[turbochargers]] in its [[Formula One]] cars. Renault's Head of Engines, Georges Douin, orchestrated the installation of turbocharged engines across much of the Renault range beginning in 1980. 10% of all turbocharged European cars in 1984 were Renaults.<ref name="Car9.84">{{cite journal|journal=Car|date=September 1984|page=94|title=Power professor|first=Howard|last=Williams|editor-last=Cropley|editor-first=Steve|publisher=FF Publishing|location=London, UK}}</ref> The company's road car designs were revolutionary in other ways also – the [[Renault Espace]] was one of the first [[minivan]]s and was to remain the most well-known minivan in Europe for the next two decades. The second-generation Renault 5, the European Car of the Year-winning [[Renault 9]], and the most luxurious Renault yet, the aerodynamic [[Renault 25|25]], were all released in the early 1980s. At the same time, poor product quality damaged the brand. The ill-fated [[Renault 14]] may have been the culmination of these problems in the early 1980s.

[[File:Renault Espace 2165cc manufactured 1990 first registered UK November 1995 (lhd).JPG|thumb|right|1985 [[Renault Espace]], the first European multi-purpose vehicle]]
[[File:Renault Twingo 2005.JPG|[[Renault Twingo]] popularized the city car in Europe from 1992. Six years later, most of its rivals began to enter the city car market.|thumb|right]]