Renault Fuego

Renault Fuego
Facelifted Renault Fuego 2.2
Overview
Manufacturer	Renault
Production	1980–1986 (Europe) 1982–1992 (South America)
Assembly	Palencia, Spain (RESA, 1980–1986) Boulogne-Billancourt, France (RSAS, 1980–1985) Maubeuge, France (MCA, 1979–1987) Santa Isabel, Argentina (RASA, 1982–1992; CIADEA, 1992–1993) Buenos Aires, Argentina (RASA, 1993–1992) Los Andes, Chile (Automotores Franco Chilena) Mariara, Venezuela (1983–1988)
Designer	Robert Opron
Body and chassis
Class	Sport compact
Body style	3-door coupé
Layout	FF layout
Related	Renault 18
Powertrain
Engine	1397 cc I4 1565 cc A5L turbo I4 1649 cc type 841/843/A2M I4 1995 cc type 829 I4 2165 cc J7T I4 2068 L J8S td I4
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,443 mm (96.2 in)
Length	4,358 mm (171.6 in)
Width	1,692 mm (66.6 in)
Height	1,315 mm (51.8 in)

The Renault Fuego ("Fire" in Spanish) is a sport compact car that was produced by French automaker Renault from 1980 to 1992, replacing the Renault 15 and 17 coupés of the 1970s. It was marketed in the United States by American Motors Corporation (AMC), and was also assembled in several countries in South America.

The Fuego's exterior was designed by Michel Jardin, working under Robert Opron (who previously designed the Citroën SM, Citroën GS, Citroën CX in the 1970s, and then followed with the Renault 25 in 1984).

The Renault Fuego was heavily based on the Renault 18, sharing its floorpan and drivetrain, but featuring a new front suspension design developed from the larger Renault 20/30. The design kept the familiar double wishbone layout common with the Renault 18 but no parts were interchangeable and the design incorporated negative scrub radius geometry. The new suspension design would later be introduced in the facelifted Renault 18, and with minor refinements (larger bushings, etc.), it was used in the Renault 25. In 1984, 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 from 1982 until finally ending production in 1995 with the 2.2-litre "GTA Max" (the final phase III facelift introduced in 1990).

It was the first mass-produced four-seat sports model to be designed in a wind tunnel. The resulting drag coefficient (Cd) factor of 0.32-0.35 depending on model and year. In October 1982, the Turbo Diesel model was classified as the then-fastest diesel car in the world with a top speed of 180 km/h.

The Fuego was the first car 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. The Fuego was also 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 Renault 25.