Actually it is "only" the successor of the R4, but as a "little friend," it will go down in history. It is one of the first so-called city cars and also looks like. Very short and equipped with in the time novel new plastic bumpers with impact protection, there really little can go wrong, cleverly integrated everyday practicality.

Inside, it offers four people the then usual place. And, if necessary, the luggage compartment can be quadruplicated. The R5 is thus indeed inwardly a only two-door R4, but beat the pants off it at beauty contests. Even the large tailgate has been retained approximately.

For the design of the R5 there is no role model at Renault. Here were new paths being forged with Michael Baué, a with 36 years still relatively young member of the design crew. Inside it is with almost only a tachometer similar to the VW Beetle, however, embedded in a completely novel synthetic surrounding. Even the really useful and direct gearshift can be exchanged against a normal for 150 DM charge.

The 135 km/h will today regarded as rather slow, after all, with this it runs away the VW Beetle. Even in the driving comfort it is superior to this, however, at the cost of a something getting used to lateral inclination in curves. But what still allows enormous cornering speeds.

Under the sheet metal of the car conceals the main difference to the R4. This still consisted of frame and bodywork, while the R5 already has a monocoque body. Simultaneously the spare wheel moves forward in the engine compartment. Further are replaced in it the steel tube seats, although convenient, but not more contemporary.

That also applies to the much more sporty variant, the Alpine, the later is even replaced by a turbo version. The engine is then, however no longer under the front of the bonnet, for better weight distribution, but is placed on the rear seat, whereby nearly all advantages of the R5 be given up.

The 'little friend' gets ahead, turns out with its low fuel consumption even during the oil price crisis of 1973/74 as a bestseller. One of the strange twists and turns of fate happens to Michael Baué, the inventor of the new and refreshing design. He witnesses the success of his work any more, because he died of cancer in 1971, just the start of the production of the R5. 12/12