Renault Express train

Appeared into 1985-1986 within the range Renault, the Renault Express train (called " Renault Rapid" or " Renault Extra" on certain market except France, such as for example in Germany or in the United Kingdom) was a light utility narrowly derived from the Supercinq, of which it divides the Soubassement mainly except:

of the rear wheel-axle unit, known as " 4 barres" that one will find later on on the versions " sportives" Renault trucks, on Renault 5 Turbo WP then on the 9 and 11 Turbo and " X" equipped with 1.721 cm ³ (GTX, TXE, 90GT…) ;
of the footing;
of the door with forgery;
of the front face, as well as front mask, wings, and cap;

while largely calling upon the bank of parts Renault " contemporaines".

Case

The case, out of self-supporting steel construction, designed in a preoccupation with a balance between rigidity and lightness, could be covered with sheet metal, semi glazed to release back visibility 3/4, glazed, to be equipped with two beating doors or a forage ladder. It existed into 2 and 5 places, and an alternative " pick up" was provided by the company of independent carriage-builders (Gruau e.g.).

It takes again an originality of Renault 4, the " girafon" , in option, allowing to charge with the long elements exceeding back top of the doors.

Motorizations and technique

The motorizations gasoline deriving narrowly from the block " Cléon " out of cast iron were laid out transversely with front, and were coupled with a box four or five reports/ratios + step back appeared on Renault 9 and 11. The cubic capacities were of 956,1 108 and 1.397 cm ³. On the most recent models, a block 1,4 liter " Energy" of 80 horses was also available, an engine much more modern (camshaft at the head), economic and pleasant. The " 956 cm ³ " was quickly abandoned, because of limited performances and of a high consumption.

Renault also proposed motorizations diesel, one 1,6 liter derived from the block " F" of 1.721 cm ³ gasoline, already seen under the cap from Super the 5,9 and 11, then one 1,9 liter.

This car existed in electric, rare alternative. It was equipped with the instrument panel Super 5, this last being modified to receive the equipment relative to its mode of propulsion (gauge of battery, for example).

The Gear box is from JBx type, 4 or 5 synchronized reports/ratios, identical to the boxes from Supercinq, 9 and 11, but with the reports/ratios with the different staging.

It is about a front traction.

The direction is traditional, with toothed rack, assisted in option or series on the last models.

The suspensions before are independent, helical springs + Amortisseur S + bars anti-roll derived directly from Supercinq, the rear wheel-axle unit is " rigid déformable" with 4 torsion bars + telescopic hydraulic dampers.

The old Brake, of hydraulic type with double circuit, is mixed, full discs with front, drums with the back, assisted by a " servofrein" with depression. The help and parking brake is with cable control and actuates the jaws of back drum.

Compete with and sales

In direct competitor with the Citroen C15, the Express light van gained a great success among the light utilities, and landed, in the long term, in succession with the Renault 4L " fourgonnette".

It was also bought in version five places by families wishing a practical vehicle. This car presents as well similarities with Super the 5 as many " afficionados" against any waiting equipped the Express train with powerful mechanics, 1,4 liter even 1,7 liter Turbo compressed " emprunté" with Volvos 440 and 480 " turbo" , then equipped with motorization Renault (foot-note: against, in certain countries, any concept of original homologation, by making vehicles of " meeting") and of more provided equipment.

With export, mainly in Germany, the light van was baptized Renault Rapid like Extra with the the United Kingdom; and was equipped according to the legislations, of the engine " Energy" cleansed or of the engine " Cléon" , also cleansed (presence of a EGR, a catalyst…) and often of equipment appreciably more abundant (arrangement above the driver, shows digital, de-icing of rear window, fog, etc). The most recent models are also equipped, in option or series, of the power-assisted steering, tinted electric panes, etc well far from the rustic machine of the beginnings.

The marketing of Renault Express was stopped in 1998.

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