Português
The Renault 5 TURBO "Maxi Turbo" was presented to the public at Concordia
Square before the departure of the "Tour de France - 1984".
At a moment when the 4 wheel drive began to be the star of the rallies, the "Regie
Renault" will make the R5 Turbo the most efficient of the two-wheel drive vehicles.
The new legislation for Group B had strongly penalized the R5 Turbo. During the 1982/83
seasons, Renault had upgraded and improved the previous model to the limits but the
time had come for a more radical approach and decisions were made that changed
considerably this model.
One of the most serious problems of the previous model was caused by the difference
in the tracks/tires width between the front and rear axles. The Renault engineers desire
was not only to increase the tires width but also to align the track's width
between the front and rear axles. With the current legislation, such was not allowed
unless there was also an increase in the engine's capacity and the consequent
shift to a higher racing class. This decision would lead to profound changes in the
mechanics, the suspensions and aerodynamics, which were not possible in the class
where the R5 Turbo competed before. It would be necessary to modify the car in order
to compete in a higher class (2 - 2.5 liters). With the move to this class, Renault
could then use wider tires and tracks, needed to accommodate the greater engine
powers, and make the car more competitive.
The changes then focused on the adoption of a 1526 cm3 turbo-charged engine
(2136 cm3 corrected cylinder capacity ), on the correction and alignement of the front
and rear axle tracks, on the adoption of wider tires and on a structural reinforcement
of the chassis along with a decrease of the car body weigth that changed very considerably
the aspect of the car.
The R5 Turbo Maxi, with its 350 bhp (6500 rpm), 43 mkg of torque and an admission pressure
adjustable between 1.85 and 1.6 bar, became then the most efficient two wheel drive
rally car, but simultaneously one of the most difficult to drive and that only a
few "real" pilots were able to tame.
The Maxi Turbo version had a production of 20 units, 9 of which were sold to private customers.
