Renault 9 & 11

Infobox Automobile
name = Renault 9 / 11


manufacturer = Renault
production = 1981 – 1989 (France)
1983 – 1987 (USA)
1983 – 1999 (Colombia)
assembly = Billancourt, France
Valladolid, Spain
Kenosha, United States
Envigado, Colombia
Santa Isabel, Argentina
Bursa, Turkey
Vallejo, Mexico
body_style = 3-door hatchback
5-door hatchback
2-door saloon (U.S. only)
4-door saloon
2-door convertible (U.S. only)
layout = Front-engine, front-wheel drive
class = Small family car
predecessor = Renault 14
successor = Renault 19
similar = Daihatsu Charmant
Ford Escort
Ford Orion
Peugeot 309
Rover 200
Opel Kadett
Vauxhall Belmont
Volkswagen Golf II
Volkswagen Jetta

The Renault 9 and Renault 11 are two small family cars produced by the French manufacturer Renault between 1981 and 1988. It was also manufactured by American Motors for the U.S. and Canadian markets from 1983 to 1987. It was produced and upgraded in Colombia between 1983 and 1999.

Overview

The Renault 9 is a four-door saloon, launched in the fall of 1981. The Renault 11 was a three- or five-door hatchback, which followed in the spring of 1983.

A version of the 9 was produced by American Motors Corporation (AMC) in the United States, where it was known as the Renault Alliance (although it also bore a discreet AMC badge on its rear window). As well as the four-door model, AMC offered an Alliance with an American designed two-door saloon body (which had higher proportioned rear wheel arches than the 4-door), and from 1984, a convertible version. There were plans for a station wagon of the Alliance, although they did not materialize.

The Renault 9 was awarded the 1982 European Car of the Year, while the Alliance appeared on "Car and Driver's" Ten Best list for 1983, and was the 1983 "Motor Trend" Car of the Year.

Although the 9 and 11 cars had different names and body styles, they were in fact identical under the skin, and were intended to jointly replace the older Renault 14. The 11 was also distinguishable from the 9 by its front end, which featured square twin headlights, which had been introduced on the Alliance in North America. The 9 also received this new front end in 1985 and both models were face-lifted for a final time with matching nose and interior upgrades for the 1987 model year.

Engines

Both cars used Renault's ageing C-type overhead valve engines in 1.1 or 1.4 litre format, and a basic suspension design which won few plaudits for the driving experience. The exceptions were the 9 Turbo and the 11 Turbo hot hatch, which used the turbocharged engine from the Renault 5. Although the cars were heavier than the Renault 5, the power from the engine was enough to ensure higher performance, thanks to its 115 hp DIN (85 kW). The rally-tuned version was impressively fast, producing a 220 bhp.

The newer F-type engine which had been developed in collaboration with Volvo appeared in later years in 1.7 L guise, powering the upmarket GTX, GTE, TXE and Electronic (Electronique in France) versions. The Alliance and Encore, while comparatively underpowered, had a definite advantage in ride and handling against other small cars available in America at the time and even had their own SCCA spec-racing series, the Alliance Cup.

Different versions around the world

Colombia

SOFASA started manufacturing the Renault 9 in 1983, launching the version "GTL" with 1400 cc and modest 60bhp. This model's engine capacity was reduced to 1300 cc and became the entry model when the better equipped "GTS" (1400 cc) was launched in 1985.

The next European face-lifted versions of the Renault 9 in the country were known as the "Gama 2". In 1987, the TL (1300 cc) was introduced followed by the much more advanced "TSE 1.3" and "GTX 1.4" in 1988. The latter featured front power windows, a spoiler, and a better interior. The new top-of-the-range "TXI" was launched in 1989 and introduced updated front lights, power mirrors and the TIR - An infrared remote control to operate the locks. In 1990 SOFASA marketed a 50-vehicle, 50th special edition "Prestige" based on this model but with leather seats and alloy rims.

In 1992 these versions ceased production and three models were introduced: The basic "Brío" (1300 cc), the mid-range "Súper" (also with 1300 cc better equipped) and the "Máximo"(1600 cc). In 1995 the "Brío" was renamed "Brío RN" so it could be differentiated of the new and slightly more sophisticated "Brío RT". A more powerful variant (1600 cc) of the otherwise identical "RT" was called "Óptimo".

By mid-1996 SOFASA decided to experiment a much more flexible way to offer cars to the market. Called "Personnalité", the idea allowed customers to choose from different engines and accessories so they could assemble the car they wanted within their budget. This was possible through special software ran in the car dealers. A year later, a face-lifted version featured fuel injection, assisted steering and a completely new interior.

After 16 years of production, the Renault 9 was discontinued in Colombia and was replaced by the Renault 19 and the Renault Mégane. It became the quintessential family car in Colombia, reaching over 115,000 units built and sold between 1983 and 1999, a record in the automotive Colombian history up to that time. [ [http://es.geocities.com/carrocolombiano2/renault9/renault_9.htm "Renault 9 (1983 - 2000)" Marzo 7 de 2005] , retrieved on August 5, 2008.]

Europe

In Europe, the Renault 9 was available in the following versions:
* C, 1.1-litre 4-cylinder
* TC, 1.1-litre 4-cylinder, 1.2-litre 4-cylinder, 1.4-litre 4-cylinder
* TL, 1.1-litre, 4-cylinder, 1.4-litre 4-cylinder, 1.6 diesel
* GTL, 1.4-litre 4-cylinder
* TR 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder
* TS 1.4-litre 4-cylinder
* TLE 1.4-litre 4-cylinder
* GTS 1.4-litre 4-cylinder
* TSE 1.4-litre 4-cylinder
* TX 1.7-litre, 4-cylinder
* GTX 1.7-litre 4-cylinder
* TXE 1.7-litre 4-cylinder
* GTE 1.7-litre 4-cylinder
* TD, 1.6-litre 4-cylinder diesel
* GTD, 1.6-litre 4-cylinder diesel

In Europe, the Renault 11 was available in the following versions:

* C, 1.1-litre 4-cylinder producing convert|47|bhp|abbr=on
* TC, 1.1-litre 4-cylinder (producing convert|47|bhp|abbr=on), later 1.2 litre 4-cylinder (producing convert|55|bhp|abbr=on)
* GTC, 1.1-litre 4-cylinder (producing convert|47|bhp|abbr=on), later 1.2 litre 4-cylinder (producing convert|55|bhp|abbr=on)
* TL, 1.4-litre 4-cylinder producing convert|60|bhp|abbr=on, convert|68|bhp|abbr=on from 1985
* GTL, 1.4-litre 4-cylinder producing convert|60|bhp|abbr=on, convert|68|bhp|abbr=on from 1985
* TD, 1.6-diesel 4-cylinder (producing convert|55|bhp|abbr=on)
* TR 1.2-litre 4-cylinder, 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder (convert|55|bhp|abbr=on/convert|60|bhp|abbr=on respectively)
* TS 1.4-litre 4-cylinder, twin choke carb producing convert|72|bhp|abbr=on
* GTS 1.4-litre 4-cylinder, twin choke carb producing convert|72|bhp|abbr=on
* TSE 1.4-litre 4-cylinder, twin choke carb producing convert|72|bhp|abbr=on
* TX 1.7-litre, 4-cylinder, twin choke carb producing convert|82|bhp|abbr=on
* GTX 1.7-litre, 4-cylinder, twin choke carb producing convert|82|bhp|abbr=on
* TXE 1.7-litre 4-cylinder, twin choke carb producing convert|82|bhp|abbr=on
* Electronic 1.7-litre 4-cylinder, twin choke carb producing convert|82|bhp|abbr=on
* Diesel, 1.6-litre 4-cylinder, producing convert|55|bhp|abbr=on
* Automatic, 1.4-litre 4-cylinder with a special lower torque version of the GTL engine producing convert|68|bhp|abbr=on.
* Turbo, 1.4-litre 4-cylinder, single choke carb with turbo charger producing convert|105|bhp|abbr=on, later convert|115|bhp|abbr=on.

4 speed manual gearboxes were standard on lower specification models (C,TC,TL,TR). 5 speed gearboxes were optional on most of these models and standard on all others. The automatic version featured special trim and a 3 speed, fully computer controlled automatic gearbox. The engine coupled to the automatic was a special high torque version of the 1397 cc cleon unit fitted to GTL and GTS models.

Last years

The Alliance and Encore (renamed the Alliance Hatchback in the 1987 model year) were dropped after Chrysler's buyout of AMC in 1987. The Alliance did get one last hurrah in the American marketplace in 1987 with the one-year-only GTA coupé and convertible. These had a higher-performance 2.0 L engine, sport suspension, an aerodynamic body kit, Ronal wheels, and other "sporting" upgrades. Made in limited quantities, the GTA is something of a collector's item today. The failure of the Renault management to recognize the North American demand for more powerful engines earlier on in the Alliance's run is considered one of the contributing factors to American Motors' downfall.Fact|date=February 2007

The Renault 9 and 11 continued in production until 1988, when it was replaced in Europe by the Renault 19.

Film and TV appearances

A blue Renault 11 TXE was shown in the 1985 James Bond film "A View to a Kill", where Bond (played for the final time by Roger Moore) steals a Renault 11 taxi from a Parisian cab driver and uses it to pursue an assassin (portrayed by Grace Jones). In a sequence coordinated by famed French stuntman Rémy Julienne, the car has its roof torn off in the resulting car chase, and is then chopped in half in a collision with a Renault 20.

References

;Inline;General
* [http://es.geocities.com/carrocolombiano2/renault9/renault_9.htm History of the Renault 9 in Colombia (manufactured between 1983-2000)] , retrieved on August 5, 2008.

External links