Renault 18 Turbo: the founder of the turbo era

The Renault RS01 was the first Formula 1 car powered by a turbocharged engine. This happened in the late 1970s, when the French company took a bold risk that no one had ever tried before: to win Formula 1 with a small 1500 cc turbo engine against the usual 12- or 8-cylinder 3.0-liter naturally aspirated engines. The debut of this car was at the British Grand Prix in 1977. That same year, a Renault car equipped with a turbo engine took second place at Le Mans, and in 1978 it won the race, proving that these units could be not only powerful, but also reliable. The big breakthrough came in 1979, when Renault won the French Grand Prix. From that moment on, the implementation of turbochargers in mass-produced Renault models became a top priority magazin de piese auto online.

Renault 18 Turbo: the founder of the turbo era

Many people believe that the Renault 5 Turbo made a major contribution to the introduction of the turbocharger into the company's production range, but the truth is that this honor goes to the less charismatic Renault 18 Turbo, presented in Paris in 1980.

With this innovative technology, Renault is offering a completely new product in the mid-size sedan segment. Since it was designed for use in a mid-size car with a turbocharger pressure limited to 600 g/sq.cm, the advanced turbo system gives the Renault 18 power comparable to that of the most powerful models on the market. On the other hand, it is a full-fledged family car for everyday use, which externally differs from the basic version only in the simple spoiler on the trunk, the small front spoiler and the large Turbo inscriptions on the doors. It is well equipped, quiet, spacious and comfortable, but when the power of the 4-cylinder engine is fully unleashed, it becomes clear that the modest displacement of 1565 cc hides much greater potential. Thanks to the Garrett turbocharger, located before the carburetor, the engine generates 110 hp at 5000 rpm, as much as the Volkswagen Golf GTI (one of the benchmarks for a multi-purpose sports car).

The temperature increased due to compression is lowered by 50-60 degrees in the intercooler, after which the air enters the carburetor. The resulting fuel mixture enters the engine cylinders through the intake valves, and the intercooling significantly reduces the thermal load on the valves and pistons.

The maximum speed of the car reaches 185 km/h, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is equal to 10 seconds, and moving 400 m from a place takes 17.4 seconds. Fuel consumption at 90 km/h, 120 km/h and city traffic is 6.4, 8.5 and 9.8 l per 100 km, respectively.

Shortly after the premiere of the Renault 18 Turbo, the Turbo Diesel version was introduced, which was available in two versions: TD (with a 4-speed) and GTD (with a 5-speed gearbox). The car was 10 kg heavier, which was due to the heavier engine with a working volume of 2068 cc. cm. The camshaft was located in the cylinder head and, together with the fuel injection pump, was driven by the crankshaft via a synthetic belt. The fuel was injected into a Ricardo Comet vortex chamber located in the cylinder head. As with the Turbo, the head and cylinder block were made of aluminum alloy. The maximum power of the Turbo Diesel was 66.5 hp at 4500 rpm, and the liter power was 32 hp per liter, or half the Turbo. The maximum speed reaches only 156 km/h, but fuel consumption is significantly reduced by between 10 and 34 percent, depending on the operating mode.

Car parts AutoPower
Car parts AutoPower

Many people believe that the Renault 5 Turbo made a major contribution to the introduction of the turbocharger into the company's production range, but the truth is that this honor goes to the less charismatic Renault 18 Turbo, presented in Paris in 1980

With this innovative technology, Renault is offering a completely new product in the mid-size sedan segment