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| - The Renault 5 ("Cinq") Turbo was the talk of the 1978 Paris Auto Show, where it was displayed with its body panels removed. While this first model was only a prototype for entry in the WRC, the vehicle came on the market in 1980. The 5 Turbo employed the same body shell as the normal Renault 5, but in order to more effectively transfer the turbo-boosted power to the road, the original model's FF layout was scrapped in favor of a mid-engine setup where the entire powertrain, including the engine, transmission, and even the differential, sat on the top of the rear axle.
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| abstract
| - The Renault 5 ("Cinq") Turbo was the talk of the 1978 Paris Auto Show, where it was displayed with its body panels removed. While this first model was only a prototype for entry in the WRC, the vehicle came on the market in 1980. The 5 Turbo employed the same body shell as the normal Renault 5, but in order to more effectively transfer the turbo-boosted power to the road, the original model's FF layout was scrapped in favor of a mid-engine setup where the entire powertrain, including the engine, transmission, and even the differential, sat on the top of the rear axle. The engine was a small water-cooled 1397 cc OHV inline-4, but thanks to its Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, Garrett turbocharger, and air-cooled intercooler, maximum power and torque were raised to 160 HP and 162.7 ft-lb for a truly substantial boost in engine performance, representing a 1.5x increase in power for the basic Renault 5, and a 3.3x increase in torque. Of course the chassis and body were also strengthened. The front and rear fenders, widened to fit the 5 Turbo's wider tires, gave this car an irresistible visual impact. A big spoiler was also mounted on the top of the rear hatch, as well as a large air dam in front. As a result of the extensive makeover, this 970 kg car was able to produce some astonishing performance figures. Maximum speed was 124 mph, with a 0-1312.3 ft time of 15 seconds and a 0-3280.8 ft time of 28 seconds. Debuting at the 1980 WRC in Corsica, the 5 Turbo took its first victory the following year at Monte Carlo. After that, the 5 Turbo was a ferocious contender at numerous events, forever branding the Renault name into WRC history.
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