Renault 19

The Renault 19 is a small family car that was produced by the French car manufacturer Renault between 1988 and 1996. In Turkey and in Argentina, production continued until 2000. The internal development code for the 19 was X53, with the five door receiving the B53 chassis code, the three door being the C53, the Chamade the L53, and the Cabriolet the D53.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Overview

The R19 was presented in June 1988,<ref name="AR91">Template:Cite book</ref> with sales in the domestic French market beginning in September 1988.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> It was the replacement for the 9 and 11, both of which were ageing and outdated by the end of the 1980s. The R19 went on sale in right hand drive form for the British market in February 1989.

The R19 was styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro, featuring Renault's new E-type (or "Energy") 1.4 L engine and F type 1.7 L versions. Base models originally used the OHV C-type Cléon 1.2 and 1.4 L engines, depending on the market. While originally only available with an atmospheric diesel engine, a turbocharged version appeared in the beginning of 1992.<ref name="AR92">Template:Cite book</ref>

Intended to be Renault's last numeric named car, the 19 ushered in a new naming policy, with the saloon versions of the 19 being known as the 19 Chamade, to distinguish them from the hatchbacks. The saloon version was launched in 1989.<ref name="AR91"/> In many markets, the Chamade badge was dropped following the facelift of 1992, with some replacing it with the "Europa" tag. The 19 Chamade customers were more often men, more often married and more rural and older than R19 hatchback buyers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1991, a convertible bodystyle built by Karmann was first shown; only a small number of these were built with the Phase I design as it was facelifted shortly thereafter. The convertible version went on sale in the beginning of 1992; it was only available with the two most powerful engine options.<ref>Automobil Revue 1992, pp. 490-492</ref> Although the R19's exterior design (which was relatively conservative, like that of the Renault 9/11) received a muted response, it was praised for its interior comfort and handling.Template:Citation needed

For the fuel injected top versions, a four-speed automatic transmission became available in the fall of 1990. Lesser versions still made do with four- or five-speed manuals, or a three-speed automatic.<ref name="AR91"/>

• Phase 1
• Renault 19 rear 20080108.jpg

  Hatchback (rear)

• Renault Chamade 4dr notchback.jpg

  "Chamade", saloon (rear)

• 1991 Renault 19 16S (14979821650).jpg

  Renault 19 16S; early version without bonnet vent

• Ren1916vcabph1b.jpg

  Convertible

• Renault 19 16v Convertible (12795061255).jpg

  Convertible (rear)

Facelift

In the summer of 1992, a revamped model was introduced with a substantially restyled front and rear, including a new dashboard and interior — although right-hand drive models retained the original dashboard from the Phase 1.

With the facelift, smaller "Energy" series units gradually replaced the old pushrod items, and 1.8 litre engines appeared at the top of the lineup, where they replaced the more powerful 1.7 units (the F3N).<ref name="AR94">Template:Cite book</ref> The R19 was sold in most of Europe until 1996, and was produced for some South American markets in Argentina until 2000 and for the Andean markets in Colombia until 2001. Turkish production lasted a little longer than in the rest of Europe, also until the year 2000. The R19's platform and running gear would continue to be used in its replacement, the first generation Renault Mégane, which lasted for seven years.

The Renault 19 was awarded the 1989 Car of the Year in Spain and Germany, 1990 Car of the Year in Ireland, and 1993 Car of the Year in Argentina. It was sold in limited numbers in Japan through the Yanase Import Dealerships. The name "Chamade" wasn't used on Japanese-market saloons because it was deemed too similar to the Daihatsu Charade, so these were called "Europa" instead. San Fu Motors in Taiwan began building two versions of the R19 locally in early 1990, aiming for a monthly output of 1,000 cars.<ref name=Wards90>Template:Cite book</ref>

The R19 did well in Germany, a market French carmakers always had a hard time cracking. It was the best selling imported car in West Germany in 1990 and then in re-united Germany from 1991 to 1994.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Ren19lautWelt>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Phase 2
• Renault 19 front 20071031.jpg

  Hatchback

• Renault 19 rear 20071031.jpg

  Hatchback (rear)

• Renault 19 Europa RN (tr).jpg

  Phase 2 saloon ("Chamade/Europa/Bellevue")

• R1916VCABPH2.JPG

  Convertible 16V, note bonnet vent

• Renault 19 II Cabriolet rear 20070321.jpg

  Convertible (rear)

16S

The Renault 19 16S (16V in some countries) was first shown towards the very end of 1988.<ref name="QR0189">Template:Cite magazine</ref> It was only actually added to the lineup in the autumn of 1990,<ref name="AR91"/> and was the only Renault 19 with a 16 valve engine. It had a distinctive air inlet on the bonnet (this did not appear on the earliest models), a rear spoiler, 15 inch Speedline SL401 alloy wheels, side skirts, twin headlamps, Recaro bucket seats with optional leather trim, four in one exhaust manifold and Bendix ABS braking system with optional trip computer, aircon and electric sunroof. The "S" is for Soupapes, French for valves.

Its rev happy F7P engine, which, along with the advanced Renix ECU, made it faster and more fuel efficient compared to most competitors. The braking system was upgraded to include Template:Convert vented discs on the front and Template:Convert discs on the rear as well as an uprated lower suspension setup and front strut bar. Period tests praised the car's handling on curvy roads but criticized its high speed stability and noise levels, in part due to very low gearing.<ref name=TV0591.11>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Phase 1 editions benefited from unique front and rear bumpers with front indicators relocated into the bumpers to allow for the twin headlamps, while the Phase 2 retained the original bumpers found throughout the range but added colour coded tops, rubber inserts, and a discreet lower splitter. All bodystyles were offered with the 16 valve engine at one time or another, but were not available in all markets.

The Phase 2 models gear ratios were also revised, to allow for the extra weight found in the safety equipment the later models carried. The last models (1995 to 1996) were called Executive and came with leather interior as standard.

Renault claimed an acceleration from 0 to Template:Convert of 8.2 seconds for the non-catalysed version with Template:Convert.<ref>Automobil Revue 1991, p. 511</ref> This engine was only available in the Phase 1 model. The catalysed model boasted Template:Convert and a top speed of Template:Convert, and a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 8.9 seconds. Template:Clear left

Motorsport

Renault Sport used the 19 in the British Touring Car Championship in 1993, driven by Alain Menu and Tim Harvey. The car proved uncompetitive except in wet conditions, and was replaced with the Laguna for the 1994 season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Engines

Model	Engine	Displacement	Valvetrain	Fuel system	Max. power at rpm	Max. torque at rpm	Top speed	Years
Petrol engines
1.2	C1G	1237 cc	OHV 8v	Carburettor	Template:Convert at 5000 rpm	Template:Convert at 3000 rpm	Template:Convert	1988–1990
1.2e	E7F	1171 cc	SOHC 8v	Single point fuel injection	Template:Convert at 6000 rpm	Template:Convert at 4000 rpm	Template:Convert	1992–1995
1.4	C1J	1397 cc	OHV 8v	Carburettor	Template:Convert at 5250 rpm	Template:Convert at 2750 rpm		1988–1989
1.4	C3J	1390 cc	OHV 8v	Single point fuel injection	Template:Convert at 4750 rpm	Template:Convert at 3000 rpm	Template:Convert	1989–1995
1.4	E6J	1390 cc	SOHC 8v	Carburettor	Template:Convert at 5750 rpm	Template:Convert at 2750 rpm	Template:Convert	1988–1992
1.4	E7J	1390 cc	SOHC 8v	Single point fuel injection	Template:Convert at 6000 rpm	Template:Convert at 3500 rpm	Template:Convert	1992–1995
1.61	C2L	1565 cc	OHV 8v	Carburettor	Template:Convert at 5000 rpm	Template:Convert at 3500 rpm		1992–2000
1.61	C3L	1565 cc	OHV 8v	Single point fuel injection	Template:Convert at 5000 rpm	Template:Convert at 5000 rpm		1992–2000
1.7	F2N	1721 cc	SOHC 8v	Carburettor	Template:Convert at 5000 rpm	Template:Convert at 3250 rpm		1988–1989
1.7	F2N	1721 cc	SOHC 8v	Carburettor	Template:Convert at 5750 rpm	Template:Convert at 3000 rpm	Template:Convert	1988–1989
1.7	F3N	1721 cc	SOHC 8v	Single point fuel injection	Template:Convert at 5000 rpm	Template:Convert at 2750 rpm	Template:Convert	1989–1995
1.7	F3N	1721 cc	SOHC 8v	Single point fuel injection	Template:Convert at 5250 rpm	Template:Convert at 3000 rpm	Template:Convert	1989–1992
1.7	F3N	1721 cc	SOHC 8v	Multi point fuel injection	Template:Convert at 5800 rpm	Template:Convert at 4000 rpm	Template:Convert	1990–1992
1.8	F3P	1794 cc	SOHC 8v	Single point fuel injection	Template:Convert at 5750 rpm	Template:Convert at 2750 rpm	Template:Convert	1992–1994
	F3P	1783 cc			Template:Convert at 5750 rpm	Template:Convert at 2750 rpm	Template:Convert	1994–1997
	F3P	1794 cc		Multi point fuel injection	Template:Convert at 5500 rpm	Template:Convert at 4250 rpm	Template:Convert	1992–1994
	F3P	1783 cc			Template:Convert at 5500 rpm	Template:Convert at 4250 rpm	Template:Convert	1994–1997
1.8 16S	F7P	1764 cc	DOHC 16v		Template:Convert at 6500 rpm	Template:Convert at 4250 rpm	Template:Convert	1990–1992
					Template:Convert at 6500 rpm	Template:Convert at 4250 rpm	Template:Convert	1990–1997
Diesel engines
1.9 d	F8Q	1870 cc	SOHC 8v	Indirect injection	Template:Convert at 4500 rpm	Template:Convert at 2250 rpm	Template:Convert	1988–1995
1.9 dT	F8Q	1870 cc	SOHC 8v	Indirect injection	Template:Convert at 4250 rpm	Template:Convert at 2250 rpm	Template:Convert	1990–1995

¹ Only for South America

Manufacturing factories

• Douai (France)
• Maubeuge (France)
• Haren-Vilvoorde (Belgium)
• Laguna de Duero, Valladolid (Spain)
• Villamuriel de Cerrato, Palencia (Spain)
• Setúbal (Portugal)
• Santa Isabel, Córdoba (Argentina)
• Envigado (Colombia)
• Oyak-Renault, Bursa (Turkey)
• Sanfu Motor Co., Ltd. (Defunct), Taichung (Taiwan)
• Avtoframos, Moscou (Russia), from november 1999

External links

• Brief history and technical specifications of the Renault 19
• Resource for Classic Renault owners and 19 Enthusiasts

Template:Early Renault vehicles Template:Renault vehicles timeline 1980 to date, Western European and North American market {{#invoke:Navbox|navbox}}