Demand for Renault 25 outstrips production

Press, 25 July 1985, Page 31

Demand for Renault 25 outstrips production

Unquestionably one of the most significant saloons to appear in the 80s, Renault’s new 25 executive car was voted “Top Car ’B5” by the British Guild of Motoring Writers. The roomy four-door hatchback also finished second in the prestigious European Car of the Year Award and in West Germany it has been voted best car of the year by the leading European Sunday newspaper, “Bild am Sonntag.” The British guild’s award

differs from most others in its aims and voting procedures. Members vote on 17 parameters of design, engineering and driving qualities. They do not vote on each individual car, but each parameter is taken in turn and voted to three places. The R 25 is in high demand in New Zealand and that is typical of the response to the model in other markets. In France it has already achieved a 5 per cent share of total new car passenger sales. Production during not much more

than a year is now more than 100,000. Although Renault is now making more than 500 25 saloons daily, orders are outstripping production and Renault is a’ .ing for international sales of up to 150,000 a year. A GTX 2165 CU cm, 4cylinder fuel injected version will be a feature of the Renault exhibition at Motor Show 85, hut the Renault likely to arouse most curiosity will be the unique Espace, a. multi-purpose people and/or load carrier

with three rows of seats in two-three-two formation. Second and third rows are adjustable for reach, like the bucket seats in front, or can be removed entirely if the full 3.0016 cu m of load space is needed. Powered by a 2-litre front-drive engine, the Espace is solidly constructed with panels of laminated polyester reinforced with glass and the performace of the body is said to be superior to that of a metal body of the same weight.