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1983 Renault Fuego

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1983 Renault Fuego specs

The Renault Fuego is a four-seater, three-door hatchback produced by French automaker Renault from 1980 to 1992, replacing the Renault 15 and 17 coupés of the 1970s.

The Renault Fuego was heavily based on the Renault 18, sharing its floorpan, drivetrain, and other items. Later, the Fuego dashboard was added to the facelifted R18. European production continued into 1986 (to 1985 in France and 1986 in Spain), while Renault Argentina produced the "Fuego GTA Max" up into 1992. It was sold in the United States through American Motors (AMC) dealers from 1982 through 1985 inclusive. The Americanization of the car drew negative responses from the original European design team due to the enlarged bumpers, recessed headlights with plastic surrounds, and choices of interior and exterior finishing that were required to suit American tastes and legislative requirements[citation needed]. A convertible version was unveiled by the French coachbuilder Heuliez in 1982, but never made it to production due to cost[citation needed] - the R11/ Alliance convertible taking its place.

Its major accomplishments including being the top-selling European two-door coupé for the 1980-82 period; the first mass produced four-seat sports model to be designed in a wind tunnel[citation needed] (with a resulting drag coefficient (Cd) factor of 0.32-0.35 depending on model and year); in October 1982, the new Turbo Diesel model being classified as (then) the fastest diesel car in the world with a top speed of 180kph; the first car in the world to have a remote keyless system with central locking that was available from the 1983 model year (from October 1982). The system was invented by Frenchman Paul Lipschutz (hence the name PLIP remote which is still used in Europe), and later introduced on other Renault models; and finally the first car to have steering wheel mounted satellite controls for the audio system (European LHD GTX and Turbo from October 1983). This feature became popularised on the new 1984 model R25.

The car was a radical departure from the R15 and R17, as it introduced a gently rounded design instead of the wedge-shaped predecessors. The Fuego's body design was created by noted automotive designer Robert Opron, who had previously designed the Citroën SM, Citroën GS, Citroën CX, and later followed with the Renault 25 in 1984.

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