Long Lost Hot Hatches - Renault 11 Turbo

"ATaylor-Jones" (alanjtaylor) 04/14/2014 at 17:51 • Filed to: LLHH, Renault 11 Turbo, Hot Hatches, Reanult Sport, GTI, Group A, rallying, Jean Ragnotti

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Some of you may recognise this week's car under a different name, the Renault Encore, the hatchback version of Car and Driver & Motor Trend's car of the year for 1983 the Renault Alliance. Others may have spotted a very similar looking taxi being ripped apart in the Bond film 'A View To A Kill'. I however see !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Group A rally car in 1986 & 1987.

Released in 1983 as a 3 or 5 door hatch then facelifted in 1987, the 11 was based on the Renault 9 Saloon. Late '84 saw the introduction of Turbo versions of both cars, sharing a boosted 1.4 litre 4 cylinder engine with the mid engined Renault 5 Turbo. Early cars made 105 bhp while the later models gained another 10 ponies. Weight was only 915 kg so performance was pretty brisk, between 8 & 9 seconds to 60 depending on the model and year.

The Group A Turbo predictably gained a good chunk of more power. Renault Sport at the time suggested around 185 bhp although seemingly this was more like 220 bhp in reality. Although the cars proved fast on tarmac with some pretty strong finishes, they were never fully able to compete with the Sierra Cosworths and Lancia Delta HF 4WDs. Reliability was never a strong point for Renault Sport either.

On the road, the car was designed to be a bit more grown up and comfortable than contemporaries such as the Golf & 205 GTIs. Unfortunately this isn't what the public wanted. As soon as the smaller, more eager front wheel drive 5 GT Turbo was introduced, the 11 faded into obscurity with many of the cars donating engines to their little brothers. Over time, what few were sold dwindled in number further to the point that there are now apparently just 9 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on UK roads.

It is a shame so few are left though, the torquey engine in such a light car gave good performance and it handled pretty well too. They also came with some of the most eightiestastic wheels and stripes early on with later cars receiving an equally enticing chiselled bodykit. Personally I just want to borrow one to play at being Monsieur Ragnotti for a couple of hours, preferably without having to rely on a hoard of rallyists pulling me out of a 20 foot drop. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out the video below!

From AJTaylor's blog !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

jkm7680 > ATaylor-Jones 04/14/2014 at 17:53

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Love the steering wheel, and the Rally heritage. Not too sure about the 4 spoke's though.

ATaylor-Jones > jkm7680 04/14/2014 at 18:06

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I know what you mean about the steering wheel, as if the boost gauge and torquesteer wasn't enough of a reminder, they add a nice chrome Turbo badge. The slats are a nice touch too. The wheels are so bad they're good.

Geneticus > ATaylor-Jones 04/14/2014 at 18:13

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"hot hatches" (As I was posting this, Disco Inferno was playing on the shop radio.)

Jobjoris > ATaylor-Jones 04/15/2014 at 05:16

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Great car, awesome engine! I favour the 1st generation with the old-school front:

If I remember correct there was a factory option of having some great looking yellow-velours sport seats which I've only seen once in a brochure (on a blue one). Can't google that though!

ATaylor-Jones > Jobjoris 04/15/2014 at 12:45

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I'm so torn between the two versions. I know the 2nd gen technically looks better but the 1st gen is so stupendously 80s it might have the edge.

French cars and velour upholstery are two things that are just meant to be together.

Jobjoris > ATaylor-Jones 04/15/2014 at 16:34

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The front of the 2nd generation could also have been a japanese hatchback, the 1st generation shouts 'Renault' all over the place.

Too bad I can't find any good pictures but these seats were awesome in velours:

ATaylor-Jones > Jobjoris 04/15/2014 at 16:37

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Fair point, the yellow fogs on the car you pictured adds to the French feel too. I want one of those seats for my living room.

Jobjoris > ATaylor-Jones 04/15/2014 at 17:00

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Speak French? http://www.leboncoin.fr/equipement_aut…

Enough to be found in Europe (even way cheaper) as all the rest of these cars have simply disappeared!

rodassecondo > ATaylor-Jones 04/17/2014 at 09:46

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Thank you ! This was a good thing to remeber.

My second father had one of them, first and a half series, with the quad lights at the front , red, 5 doors with the stripes.

I never managed to drive it, but we crossed Portugal ( old times, little to no cops but bad roads ) many many times. It was able to keep 180kms /h very easely, and the soft suspension made it good in cornering. Great, great reliable car. I remember when the turbo started to go bad, the turbo whistle increased and i loved the extra noise. The young man had the 5 gt turbo, the older guy with kids had the 9 or 11 turbo. The 18 turbo never made it here because with was more heavely taxed because of the bigger engine.

Boo > ATaylor-Jones 06/17/2016 at 13:34

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They share engine with the front wheel drive 5 GT Turbo, not the mid-engined 5 Turbo as stated.
It’s the same basic block and cc, but a vastly different head and state of tune.