Renault 14

Make	Renault
Years of production	1976 to 1983
Built	999 093
Class	motor car
Fuel types	gasoline
Engines	Engine X : 1218  cc, 1360  cc
Engine position	Front transversal
Maximum power	57/70
Gearbox	Manual 4 and 5 speed
Unloaded weight	865 to 880 kg
Body	5 doors
Length	4,025 mm
Width	1,624 mm
Height	1,405 mm
wheelbase	2,530 mm

The Renault 14 is a car sold to nearly a million copies, and manufactured in Douai ( North ), Haren ( Belgium ) and Palencia ( Spain ). Launched in May 1976 , it was intended to compete with the Simca 1100 replaced by the Simca-Talbot Horizon , Fiat Ritmo , Opel Kadett and other Volkswagen Golf . The Renault 14 is the first compact from Renault.

It was criticized from the beginning as soon as it was launched because of its undersized (1 218 cm ³ , 57  hp ) mechanics  common to Peugeot and stingy equipment. A few years later, a disastrous advertising campaign equating the Renault 14 to a pear because of its concept "a minimum of space for the engine, a maximum for comfort" and its unusual curves for the time, will complete its reputation, the arrival of two better equipped versions (the GTL and TS) will not succeed in reversing the trend.

This car would surely have had more success with the "  Cleon-Cast iron engine  " of older design (the choice of modern mechanics was retained), a train front house and without this advertising that compared to a pear. She was perceived as a Renault with a Peugeot mechanic. A sporting version would have also contributed to a better notoriety of the model.

The Renault 14 shares its powertrain with the Peugeot 104  : it is the "  engine X  " with camshaft head aluminum all transverse type - a first at Renault - inclined 72 ° rearward with 4 cylinders in line, and gearbox placed under the crankcase block. Engine-box lubrication is common like the Austin Mini . This block, with the typical sound (transmission engine-gearbox gear box called "triplet"), had been studied by Peugeot as part of a joint program with Renault within the French Mechanics created for this purpose. Its front axle is derived from the Peugeot 104. This "hybridization" with the main competitor of the time would have been badly perceived by the Renault maintenance network at the time, and most probably also by the purest customers. As for the rear wheel, it is derived from that of the Renault 5 with dimensions and settings appropriate to the size and weight of the R14.

The Renault 14 was comfortable, with independent wheel suspension, but responsive to the load and side wind. The space, the modularity allowed by the hatchback, interior friendliness and passive safety were the main arguments of this model.

At the launch, Renault offered an L version and a TL version, with the "X engine" of 1218  cm ³ (type 129) at 57 hp. The very bare L version will be removed for the 1978 vintage . In 1977, for the European market, there appeared a limited series, the Renault 14 Safrane. Available in a medium brown metallic color, it is more luxurious with a brown velvet upholstery, alloy wheels and a quartz clock.

For 1979 , appear GTL and TS versions. In mid-range, the 14 GTL, with a 14 TL engine, has an improved finish (upholstery of velvet seats, watch) to seduce a little more after the uninhibited advertising of the pear . The 14 TS, more powerful, is equipped with the "motor X" of 1 218  cm ³ (type 145) of the 14 TL, but pushed to 69  ch DIN (instead of 57  ch) thanks to a dual body carburetor and a modified exhaust system. It was the first time that a car in this category had electric windows and a central lock. Externally, there was the degraded black adhesive tape on the front wing, intended to lighten the silhouette , as well as shields expanded and anthracite gray color.

Phase 2 

For 1980 , the Renault 14 offers a restyling at the front: the turn signals are alongside the headlights instead of being in the bumpers. Now, the 14 TL and 14 GTL offer 58.5  hp while the 14 TS receives the "motor X" of 1360  cm ³ (type 150) 70  hp of the Peugeot 104 S to the best torque. The engine was also fitted to the Citroën BX 14 E / RE, the Talbot Samba GLS and the first Peugeot 205 . For 1982 , the 14 GTL will receive it with 60  hp and a single carburetor (type X5J).

This car has never really stood out among the cars of the middle class, except in France and Spain , although its qualities have been undisputed. Its demarcated line of contemporary production and the problems - of wet weather and mainly corrosion - encountered by many buyers have been advanced to explain this half-failure. The production was stopped in 1983 , after a little less than a million copies sold, which is still a good figure for the time, but below the expectations of Renault.

The overall line all rounded off a feeling of softness and heaviness, like the first Citroen Visa . Served by its lack of power, 57 horses while the competition offers 70 on average for the same size, minimalist equipment and average manufacturing quality will soon pin him an uncompromising picture. Even the arrival of the TS version in 1978, richly equipped and whose engine power is increased to 70 horses, did not change the rejection of the customer for this model whose sales continued to decline from 1981 with particular arrival of the Renault 9 and that the Régie gave up in 1983, replaced by the Renault 11 .

• Special: Confidential version for the market in Switzerland and manufactured in 1978. It was characterized by black bars on the sides of the bodywork, bibs on the rear wheels and alloy wheels with special design. The interior layout was that of the TL version.
• Regency: Version intended for the UK market, made on the basis of the TS version and available only in burgundy paint. This special edition is characterized by the presence of accessories such as the blackened glass sunroof, the car radio, alloy wheels, the sun visor also for the rear passengers, the leather steering wheel and a decorative thread along the sides. at the waist line height.
• Safrane: This version, which bears a name that will be used on the Renault high-end model of the 1990s, is characterized by a metallic orange paint, alloy wheels and adhesive decorations on the sides and back of the amount .