how to beat a rolls!
R16 TX
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THE BOOM-YEARS
SALOON
THE BOOM-YEARS
SALOON
Pierre Dreyfus, chairman of Renault, wanted to launch a large saloon for baby-boom families. To symbolise the social progress of the time, the car needed to reflect a comfortable (but not ostentatious) social status and offer something original to appeal to new customers. So the question was, how to make a car as versatile as Renault 4 that would be “a car for families who are attracted to the modernity of consumer society”? The answer? Renault 16
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spirit
THE
RULE-BREAKER
THE
RULE-BREAKER
With its two-box shape and sleek lines, its tailgate and six-window bodywork, a low beltline, high roof and lack of drip rails, the Renault 16 was a radical departure from the design codes of the era. If we were to describe Renault R16 in just two words, we’d say spacious and versatile! Its inner space was arranged around six functions, enabling a range of uses to beat other saloons of its time.
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interior
EXEMPLARY
HANDLING
EXEMPLARY
HANDLING
Renault 16 was a front-wheel drive saloon (still rare at that time) offering safe road handling. And it boasted another benefit: real driving pleasure, which was largely due to its aluminium engine, which was further improved in the TX version launched in 1973. The new engine had capacity of 1,647 cm3 and delivered 93 hp, with a 5-speed gearbox helping the car safely reach 175 kph. Unsurprisingly, it was a big hit!
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original soundtrack
LISTEN TO
THIS PLAYLIST
LISTEN TO
THIS PLAYLIST
Renault 16 harks back to the 1970s: disco for all the family! And these sounds will also recall the little sister from which it took inspiration: Renault 4.
archives
MISTER
PRESIDENT...
MISTER
PRESIDENT...
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style
A WINNING
COMBINATION
A WINNING
COMBINATION
When you take a good look, Renault R16 is... a big 4L! With the same two-box architecture, same tailgate, same front central engine and gearbox positioning, and the same difference between the right and left wheelbases (7 cm in Renault 16’s case), due to the rear suspension of transverse torsion bars. Why change a winning combination?
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exploits
THE ROLLS
BEATER
THE ROLLS
BEATER
The TX version of Renault 16 had such a good engine (1,6747 cm3 to reach 175 kph) that it was shared with certain Lotus and Alpines, and even some single-seater racers. That is already quite remarkable, but R16’s real exploit was winning the 1966 Car of the Year title, ahead of... the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow!
technical features
1,851,502 UNITS
MANUFACTURED
1,851,502 UNITS
MANUFACTURED
- production
1,851,502 units from 1965 to 1980
- Performance and engine
4 cylinders in cast aluminium
from 1,470 cm3 to 1,647 cm3
55-93 hp depending on version
142-175 kph depending on version
- dimensionsLength 4,24 mWidth 1,65 mHeight 1,45 m
- architecture
two-box body with tailgate
front-wheel drive
front mid-engine, with gearbox placed to the front of it (as on Renault 4)
The Originals Store
SWEET 16
SWEET 16
Looking for a gift for a 1970s fan? What about our Renault 16 merchandising? A car that beat a Rolls Royce is surely worth a look!
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