Renault Safrane

Renault Safrane
Overview
Manufacturer	Renault
Production	1992–2000
Body and chassis
Class	Executive car (E)
Body style	5-door hatchback/notchback
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,765 mm (108.86 in)
Length	4,768 mm (187.72 in)
Width	1,816 mm (71.50 in)
Height	1,435 mm (56.50 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	Renault 25
Successor	Renault Vel Satis

The Renault Safrane was an executive car (E-segment in Europe) designed and built by the French manufacturer Renault from 1992 to 2000. Throughout its lifespan it remained the most expensive and most luxurious Renault available, although its commercial success was limited, compared to some similar models. It was replaced by the Vel Satis, and to some extent, by the short lived two-door Avantime.

Since 2008, a new model, based directly on the Renault Samsung SM5 sedan, is also called Renault Safrane.

The Safrane was launched in April 1992, to replace the ageing Renault 25 in the full-size market segment. Its clean, aerodynamic styling was quite conservative and very typical of early 1990s car design, also quite reminiscent of the 25's.

All Safranes were 5-door hatchbacks/notchbacks with transversely mounted engines. Front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive versions were available, with a range of petrol or diesel engines and manual or automatic transmissions. All petrol engines were fuel-injected and were fitted with three-way catalytic converters, as required in Europe after 1993 for engines of all sizes. The Safrane was also the first Renault to be equipped with air bags.

The Safrane carried over the Renault 25's 5-door hatchback/notchback design that had gained wide customer acceptance in France. Despite the traditional preference for saloon bodies in the executive car segment, Renault decided to compete on the base of added practicality of the rear door and split-folding rear seat (not available from most sedan-bodied competitors), as well as originality.

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Wikipedia