Renault · 1981–2000

Renault 9 and 11

The Renault 9 and Renault 11 are small family cars produced by the French manufacturer Renault from 1981 to 1989 in saloon (Renault 9) and hatchback (Renault 11) configurations — both were styled by the French automobile designer, Robert Opron. Variants were manufactured by American Motors Corporation (AMC), as the Renault Alliance and Renault Encore for the North American market. The car was produced in Turkey until 2000. The models use a transverse front-wheel drive engine configuration, and feature four wheel independent suspension. They were chosen as the European Car of the Year in 1982, as well as the Car of the Year by Motor Trend and one of the 10Best by Car and Driver in 1983.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Renault 14 · Successor: Renault 19

All Renault 9 and 11 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Phases

There were three facelifts given to the Renault 9 and two facelifts to the Renault 11 during their careers. When released in 1983, the Renault 11 was equipped with double headlights, different from the Renault 9. In 1985 the Renault 9 was given a facelift, giving it the same front look and double headlights as the Renault 11 but only in GTS, GTD, TSE, TDE, TXE, and GTX levels. The lower end C, TC, GTC, TL, GTL, and TD models retained the phase 1 front. The later Renault 9 Broadway series also had the 4 headlight front of the phase 1 Renault 11. The more aerodynamic Phase 2 appeared in 1987 and the 9 and 11 now only differed at the rear of the cars. Finally, the Phase 3, which was not sold in most of Europe, was released in Turkey in 1997. This final revision had more rounded head and tail lights, as well as ovoid body cladding around the bumpers and boot lid, which aimed to give the car a more modern look. The front design was originally developed for the 1993 facelift model assembled in Taiwan under the name "Renault Luxmore." These later Turkish-made cars carried a "Broadway" badge as well as the Renault 9 designation, but note that "Broadway" had already been used on special editions of the earlier phase models.

Overview

The Renault 9 was introduced in October 1981 as a four-door saloon (in right-hand drive form for the UK market in March 1982). Marketing of the 11 started at the beginning of 1983 (in the UK from June that year) as a three- or five-door hatchback. Both models originated under the Renault code name L42 and were designed by Robert Opron. The development of the Renault 9 in 1977, as a "four metre" model (referring to its length), aimed to position it between the Renault 5 and the Renault 14. Opron developed a traditional three box design to appeal to more conventional customers and avoid the poor reception that had met the Renault 14's styling. Exhaustive consumer studies suggested that buyers rejected innovation, resulting in a rather nondescript design, albeit of modest elegance. The roofline was also taller than that of many competitors, providing ample interior space. The C and TC featured 1.1 L engines, while the TL, GTL, and TLE received 1.4 L engines producing 60 PS (44 kW). The GTS and TSE received 72 PS (53 kW) versions of the 1.4 L engine. Before the two models entered mass production, Renault had assigned more than 500 employees to the L42 project, logging 14.5 million hours of study and testing, constructing 44 prototypes, testing 130 engines, and test-driving prototypes over 2,200,000 kilometres (1,367,017 mi). Both cars were also more conservatively engineered, although they retained front wheel drive, Renault abandoned the Douvrin (or "Suitcase") transmission in the sump engine, which it had shared with Peugeot-Citroën in the Renault 14, in favour of its in-house power unit – the venerable C-type "Cléon" engine with an end-on mounted transmission. This mechanical layout, along with the 9/11's suspension design, was to become the basis of all small Renaults

Engines

At launch, both cars used Renault's ageing Cléon-Fonte overhead valve engines in either 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. The C1E 1.1 litre engine was available only on the Renault 9 and for the three-door body of the R11. The five-door Renault 11 TC and GTC became available with the C1G 1.2 litre engine in 1985. The C1E was phased out from phase 2, leaving the C1G the smallest engine for the 9/11. The 11 Turbo was introduced first, originally only with three-door bodywork. Compared to the 5 Turbo and the 205 GTi, the 11 Turbo had a more comfort oriented focus. Although the cars were heavier than the Renault 5, the increased power in later models was enough to ensure higher performance, thanks to its 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp). The rally tuned version was impressively fast, producing up to 220 PS (162 kW; 217 hp). The newer F type engine which had been developed in collaboration with Volvo appeared from the end of 1983 on in twin carburetted 1,721 cc guise (F2N), powering the upmarket GTX, GTE, TXE, and TXE Electronic (Electronique in France) versions. These larger engined versions were specifically developed with American needs in mind, although they also happened to be well suited for a changing European market. Later iterations also received fuel injected engines. 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. Line-up. C, TC – 1.1 L – 1,108 cc; 48 PS (35 kW) GTC – 1.2 L – 1,237 cc; 55 PS (40 kW) TL, GTL, TLE

Different versions around the world

=== Argentina === The Renault 11 was manufactured between October 1984 and December 1994 in Renault Argentina's Santa Isabel plant with the following trim levels: GTL, RL, RN, TR, TS, TSE, TXE with the 1.4 M1400 engine by Renault Argentina and after by CIADEA. Manufacture of the Renault 9 began in 1987 until 1997 in the same versions and engines, plus the 1.6 like the R11 and according to ADEFA 144,262 vehicles made (R9) and 79,037 (R11). Today, the R9 is a very popular car in the country; in the small and the big cities. All versions of the R11 and R9 manufactured in Argentina, as well as in Colombia and Turkey, suffered the problems that the material with which the dashboard is made degraded with ultraviolet rays, and ends cracking (especially on the right side, since it doesn't have the steering column that supports it). Colombia. SOFASA started manufacturing the Renault 9 in 1983, launching the version GTL with 1400 cc and 60 PS (44 kW; 59 hp). 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 facelifted 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 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 TXE 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 with leather seats and alloy rims. In 1992, these versions ceased production and three models were introduced: The basic Brío (1.3 L), the mid range Súper (1.3 L) and the Máximo (1.6 L). In 1

In culture

In the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill, a Renault 11 TXE taxi plays a significant role. Renowned stuntman Rémy Julienne coordinates a sequence in which the roof of the Renault 11 is torn off and the car is cut in half during a collision with a Renault 20.

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Specifications

name: Renault 9 / 11
Related: Renault Alliance, Renault Encore
aka: Renault Luxmore (Taiwan)
Manufacturer: Renault
Production: 1981–1989 (France), 1983–1987 (United States), 1983–1996 (Taiwan), 1984–1997 (Argentina), 1983–1999 (Colombia), 1985–2000 (Turkey)
Assembly: France: Douai, Argentina: Santa Isabel (Renault Argentina), Chile: Los Andes (Cormecánica), Colombia: Envigado (SOFASA), Mexico: Vallejo, Spain: Valladolid (FASA-Renault), Taiwan: Taichung (Sanfu Motors), Turkey: Bursa (Oyak-Renault), United States: Kenosha (AMC), Yugoslavia: Novo Mesto (IMV)
Body style: 3/5-door liftback, 2-door saloon (United States only), 4-door saloon, 2-door convertible (United States only)
Layout: Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Class: Small family car (C)
Designer: Robert Opron
Predecessor: Renault 14
Successor: Renault 19