Renault 9 & 11

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Reanult 9 / 11

Manufacturer	Renault
Production	1981—88
Predecessor	Renault 14
Successor	Renault 19
Class	Small family car
Body style	3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback 2-door saloon 4-door saloon 2-door convertible
Layout	FF layout
Similar	Daihatsu Charmant Ford Escort Ford Orion Peugeot 309 Rover 200 Vauxhall Astra Vauxhall Belmont Volkswagen Golf Volkswagen Jetta

The Renault 9 and Renault 11 were two small family cars produced by the French manufacturer Renault between 1981 and 1988.

[edit] Overview

Post-facelift Renault 11

The Renault 9 was a four-door saloon, launched in 1981. The Renault 11 was a three- or five-door hatchback, which followed in late 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, 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 1983 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 1984 and both models were face-lifted for a final time with matching nose and interior upgrades for the 1987 model year.

Rear view of the Renault 11

[edit] 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 newer F-type engine which had been developed in collaboration with Volvo appeared in later years in 1.7 L guise, powering the upmarket TXE and GTX 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.

[edit] Versions

In Europe, the Renault 9 was available in the following versions:

C, 1.1-litre 4-cylinder
TC, 1.1-litre 4-cylinder, 1.4-litre 4-cylinder
TL, 1.1-litre, 4-cylinder, 1.4-litre 4-cylinder, 1.6 diesel
TR 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder
TS 1.4-litre 4-cylinder
TX 1.7-litre, 4-cylinder
TXE 1.7-litre 4-cylinder
GTX 1.7-litre 4-cylinder
Diesel, 1.6-litre 4-cylinder

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

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

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.

[edit] Last years

The Alliance and Encore (renamed the Alliance Hatchback from 1986 onwards) 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.^{[citation needed]}

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

[edit] Trivia

A blue Renault 11 TXE was shown in the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill, where Bond 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.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Renault 9/11

History of the Renault 9 in Colombia (manufactured between 1983-2000)

	Renault car timeline, 1940s-1980s v • d • e																																								Next ->
Type	1940s					1950s										1960s										1970s										1980s
	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Economy car																	3 / 4
Supermini																												5 / 7													Super 5
Small family car		4CV										Dauphine						8/10						6								14						9/11
Large family car	Juvaquatre																							12										18								21
Executive car							Frégate														16										20 / 30								25

Coupé																											15/17									Fuego
Roadster														Caravelle
Off-roader																									Rodeo 4/6												Rodeo

<- Previous	Renault car timeline, 1980s-present v • d • e
Type	1980s										1990s										2000s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
City car														Twingo														Twingo II
Supermini						Super 5					Clio I								Clio II / Thalia							Clio III
Small family car			9 / 11						19							Mégane I								Mégane II
Large family car	18						21								Laguna I						Laguna II								Laguna III
Executive car				25									Safrane									Vel Satis

Leisure activity vehicle															Kangoo
Mini MPV																									Modus
Compact MPV																	Scénic I						Scénic II
Large MPV					Espace I							Espace II						Espace III					Espace IV
																						Avantime
Coupé	Fuego
Roadster																Spider