page_title: Renault 5
section_title: Renault Le Car
hierarchical_section_title: Renault 5 / First generation (1972–1985) / Renault Le Car
caption_attribution_description: We stopped in France for a quick bite and some of the local scenery.
context_page_description: The Renault 5 is a four-passenger, three or five-door, front-engine, front wheel drive hatchback supermini manufactured and marketed by the French automaker Renault over two generations: 1972–1985 and 1984–1996. The R5 was marketed in the US as Le Car, from 1976 to 1983. Renault marketed a four-door sedan variant, the Renault 7, manufactured from 1974 to 1984 in Spain by Renault's subsidiary FASA-Renault and exported in limited markets.
  The Renault 5 became the best-selling car in France from 1972–1986, with a total production exceeding 5.5 m over a 14-year period, making it France's most popular car.
context_section_description: The North American Renault 5 debuted in 1976 as the Le Car, as part of American Motors Corporation's partnership with Renault at the time. AMC marketed it through its 1300 dealers where it competed in the United States against such front-wheel-drive subcompacts as the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Rabbit. It was described as a "French Rabbit" that "is low on style, but high on personality and practicality".
  AMC's ad agency launched the car in the U.S. with a marketing campaign emphasizing that it was Europe's best selling automobile with millions of satisfied owners. It did not achieve such immediate success in the United States market even though the Le Car was praised in road tests comparing "super-economy" cars for its interior room and smooth ride, with an economical [35 mpg‑US (6.7 L/100 km; 42 mpg‑imp) highway and 28 mpg‑US (8.4 L/100 km; 34 mpg‑imp) city] as well as its smooth-running engine.
  The U.S. version featured a desmogged 1397 cc inline-four engine with a power of 55 hp (41 kW). In 1977 it dominated the Sports Car Club of America "Showroom Stock Class C" class. Ever tightening emissions legislation meant that power was down to 51 hp (38 kW) by 1980.
  The Le Car was offered in three-door hatchback form only from 1976 until 1980. For the 1980 model year, the front end was updated to include a redesigned bumper and grille, as well as rectangular headlights. A five-door hatchback body style was added in the 1981 model year. Imports continued through 1983, when the car was replaced by the Kenosha, Wisconsin-built, Renault 11-based Renault Alliance. Sales in Canada continued until 1985, when production of the first generation Renault 5 came to an end.
  In at least two U.S. municipalities, the Le Car was used as a law enforcement vehicle, when the La Conner, Washington police department acquired three of the vehicles for its fleet in the late-1970s. Renault advertised Le Car's versatility in a full page ad featuring its use by the department. The Ogunquit, Maine police department also used Renault 5's as their police cars in the late 70's/early 80's.
  Heuliez built and sold van conversions as Le Car Van. The rear side panels were replaced with plastic panels that included round porthole windows, as well as a new small window liftgate. The interior was red velour. It was available both in two and four seat versions. Between 1979 and 1983 about 450 Le Car Vans were built.
caption: "Le Car" version marketed by AMC
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