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Renault 18

The Renault 18 is a large family car produced by French manufacturer Renault between 1978 and 1993 (with production for European markets finishing in 1986).

Development

The Renault 18 was intended as a replacement for the Renault 12, which had been in production since 1969, though the 12 continued in production alongside the 18 until 1980. Unlike the earlier car, the 18 was designed rather quickly; the time between its initial conception and its actual launch was only eighteen months. Although Renault made numerous forays into international markets in countries such as Brazil with cars like the Renault 12, the Renault 18 was the first Renault intended as a true "world car", hence the slogan Meeting International Requirements. As well as France, the car went on to be manufactured in Argentina, Australia, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Mexico, Morocco, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela,with assembly line in Slovenia and sold in Algeria, Austria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Senegal, Sweden, Syria, the United Kingdom, the United States, Thailand, Turkey, and Zimbabwe.

The initial range

After it went into production at Renault's Flins factory in France in December 1977, the Renault 18 was presented at the Geneva Salon in March 1978, with marketing sales beginning the following month.

Initially, the R18 was only available as a four-door saloon, in TL, GTL, TS and GTS trim variations. The TL and GTL were powered by the 1397 cc Renault Cléon petrol engine (which was developed from the 1289 cc engine from the Renault 12), which produced . Both models had a 4-speed gearbox. The TS and GTS were powered by the 1647 cc A Series engine (which was the same as used in the Renault 17 TS) but without the fuel injection, which lowered the output to . The TS had a 4-speed gearbox, while the GTS had a 5-speed gearbox (with optional 3-speed electronic automatic transmission available for both models. The automatic versions of the TS and GTS models were called the TS Automatic and GTS Automatic to distinguish them from their manual transmission counterparts.

The 18 was Renault's first car to use the 1.4 L Cléon engine in the medium-size car sector. A point of interest with the 18 was its wheels: unusually for a car of such relatively large size, it utilized 3-stud wheels (similar to that of the Citroën 2CV), rather than the 4- or even 5-stud wheels of most of its competitors. The 18 gained 4-stud wheels in 1980.

The first estate models

By the late 1970s, European production of the Renault 12 was being gradually wound down, followed by the arrival of the estate versions of the Renault 18 on 1 March 1979. The R18 Estate ("Break" in French-speaking countries) was only available in TL and TS model variations. They were mechanically identical to their saloon counterparts except the rear suspension used in the estates was more like that in the bigger Renault 20 and Renault 30. As for equipment specifications, the estates were identical to the saloons, except the TS estate additionally featured shock-absorbent bumpers, door mouldings, and front seat head restraints from the 18 GTL saloon. The estate proved almost as popular as the saloon.

The Renault 18 estate was also sold (as the "Sportwagon") through American Motors (AMC) in the North American market from 1981 to 1986, and the saloon in 1981–82 as the Renault 18i. However, it was not a success. It was replaced by the Renault 21's North American equivalent, the Eagle Medallion.

The 18 was discontinued in Europe in 1986, but continued in production until 1993 in South America. In Argentina and Colombia, there were other versions too, namely the TX and GTX. The TX being the initial 1982 model, featuring the first 2.0 L powerplant fitted to a production 18 worldwide (there was a need for a powerful car to replace the Renault Torino luxury-sports range). There was also the GTX-II, featuring a basic on-board computer that displayed fuel consumption, etc. It was available with 1.6 L (TL), 2.0 L and 2.2 L engines. There was a special edition of the 18 with two-tone paint (black top and light grey bottom) called the American (later updated with central locking and other items, which was named the American 2).

Timeline

1978: Renault 18 goes into production.
1980: All models now have new alternator with built-in electronic regulator.
1980 (July): Introduction of the 18 Diesel. It had a 4-cylinder 2068 cc 2.1 diesel engine (which produced ), negative offset front suspension, and larger four-stud wheel rims (all of which were shared with the Renault 20 Diesel). The 18 TD had a 4-speed gearbox, while the 18 GTD had a 5-speed gearbox (which was optional on the TD). Since the basic 18 Diesel model was the 18 TD (available as both a saloon and estate), it was equivalent to the 18 TS, while the more luxurious 18 GTD (available exclusively as a saloon) which was equivalent to the 18 GTS. Power-assisted steering was optional on the 18 GTD.
1981: Introduction of the 18 Turbo.
1982: Revisions: negative offset front suspension, clear front direction indicator lenses (instead of the original orange ones), grey polyester bumpers and door handles (instead of the original chrome ones), and restyled seats. Optional 5-speed gearbox available on the 18 TL. The 18 GTL obtained an "economy-tune" version of the 1647 cc engine, as well as a 5-speed gearbox, higher final drive ratio, electronic ignition and an econometer gauge.
1984: Introduction of the 18 GTX in France as the replacement for the 18 GTS.
1986: Renault 21 is launched as the 18's eventual replacement and the 18 is withdrawn from sale in the UK.
1989: European production of the Renault 18 is discontinued. 2,028,964 Renault 18s were built in France alone.
1993: The last Renault 18 rolls off the production line in Argentina.

Trim levels

Index Name	Production Years	Engine Size	Notes
Renault 18 TL	1978–1986	1397 cc	Touring Luxe specification includes: Two-speed wipers Intermittent screen wipe Electric screen washers Volt meter Engine coolant temperature gauge Fuel gauge Six-figure mileage recorder Trip recorder Handbrake warning light Defective front brake discs warning light Day/night position for interior rear view mirror Rheostat for adjusting brightness of dashboard lights Illuminated ashtray, heater panel, boot and glove box Heated rear screen Anti-dazzle headlight adjustment Adjustment for direction of headlight beam Cigarette lighter Drivers side sun visor Passengers side sun visor Vanity mirror in passengers side sun visor Full carpeting Cloth upholstery Front armrests with grab handles Rear armrests Ashtrays in the rear doors Childproof rear door locks Passengers side interior courtesy light Front door pockets Center console incorporating coin tray Reclining front seats Loudspeakers in front doors.
Renault 18 GTL	1978–1986	1397 cc (1978-1982) 1647 cc (1982-1986)	Grand Touring Luxe has specification of TL plus: Foam-filled steering wheel H4 iodine headlights Quartz clock Velour upholstery Styled wheels Drivers side interior courtesy light Map reading light for front seat passenger Remote-adjustable driver's side door mirror Rear fog lights Headlight wash/wipe system Pre-installation radio equipment Shock absorbent bumpers Adjustable front seat head restraints Black rubber protective side mouldings.
Renault 18 LS	1979–1981	1647 cc	Luxe Super has specification of TL.
Renault 18 TS	1978–1982	1647 cc	Touring Special has specification of TL, plus: Foam-filled steering wheel H4 iodine headlights Quartz clock Velour upholstery Styled wheels Drivers side interior courtesy light Map reading light for front seat passenger.
Renault 18 GTS	1978–1983	1647 cc	Grand Touring Special has specification of GTL, plus: Electric front windows Central locking
Renault 18 TD	1980–1985	2068 cc Diesel	Touring Diesel has specification of TS.
Renault 18 GTD	1980–1986	2068 cc Diesel	Grand Touring Diesel has specification of GTS.