Shmidt.Art - Renault 5 Turbo 2 - 1980s

A premium automotive poster dedicated to the 1983 Renault 5 Turbo 2 — one of the most distinctive and exciting performance hatchbacks of the 1980s, developed from Renault's ambitious Group 4 rally program.

This artwork presents the Renault 5 Turbo 2 in a striking red finish, combining a large three-quarter exterior illustration with front, side and rear views, a detailed turbocharged engine study, a top-down body illustration and a technical drawing of the driver's cockpit.

The Legendary Mid-Engine Hot Hatch

Introduced in 1983, the Renault 5 Turbo 2 represented the second evolution of Renault's extraordinary mid-engined performance hatchback.

Although visually related to the ordinary Renault 5, the Turbo 2 featured a radically different mechanical layout, with its engine mounted behind the front seats and power delivered exclusively to the rear wheels.

Developed from the original Renault 5 Turbo, which debuted in 1980, the Turbo 2 retained the dramatic wide-body styling, rear-mounted engine compartment and rally-inspired engineering that made the model famous.

The Turbo 2 was introduced as a more economical production version, replacing several expensive aluminum body panels with steel components and adopting a more conventional Renault 5-derived interior.

Despite these changes, it preserved the essential performance characteristics and unmistakable appearance of the original Turbo.

Its dramatically widened rear wheel arches, distinctive side air intakes, short wheelbase and aggressive stance transformed the modest Renault 5 silhouette into one of the most recognizable performance cars of its era.

1.4-Litre Turbocharged Engineering

At the heart of the Renault 5 Turbo 2 is a 1.4-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, mounted longitudinally behind the passenger compartment.

The 1397 cc engine featured an aluminum cylinder head, electronic fuel injection and a Garrett turbocharger, producing approximately 160 PS in European road specification.

Power was transmitted to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox, creating a driving experience fundamentally different from that of the conventional front-wheel-drive Renault 5.

The compact engine's turbocharged power delivery, combined with the car's relatively low weight and short wheelbase, provided lively acceleration and highly responsive handling.

With a maximum speed of approximately 200 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in around 7.7 seconds, the Turbo 2 offered impressive performance for a compact production car in the early 1980s.

The mid-engine layout helped concentrate the vehicle's mass toward the center of the chassis, while its wide rear track and substantial rear tyres contributed to traction and stability.

The result was a compact performance machine with a distinctive mechanical character and strong connections to Renault's international rallying ambitions.

Design & Aesthetic

The poster uses a warm ivory background with restrained black and grey technical illustrations, inspired by vintage Renault engineering documents, classic automotive design studies and period motorsport publications.

The central illustration presents the Renault 5 Turbo 2 in a vibrant red finish, emphasizing its dramatically widened rear bodywork, angular 1980s styling, rectangular headlights and distinctive alloy wheels.

Supporting technical drawings show the vehicle from the front, rear and side, highlighting the compact three-door hatchback proportions, pronounced wheel arches, side-mounted cooling intakes and characteristic rear body design.

A detailed top-down illustration reveals the unusual mechanical layout, with the passenger compartment positioned ahead of the centrally mounted engine.

The engine illustration presents the compact turbocharged inline-four powerplant, including its turbocharger, intake system, cylinder head and associated mechanical components.

The driver's cockpit illustration highlights the classic Renault steering wheel, analog instrumentation, manual gear selector and functional interior architecture of the Turbo 2.

Together, these elements create a comprehensive visual tribute to one of the most unconventional and memorable French performance cars ever produced.

Poster Details

Size: A1 (841 × 594 mm)
Orientation: Landscape
Subject: Renault 5 Turbo 2
Year: 1983
Manufacturer: Renault
Country of Origin: France
Body Style: Three-door performance hatchback
Engine: 1.4-litre turbocharged inline-four
Displacement: 1397 cc
Configuration: Inline-four
Cooling: Water-cooled
Engine Position: Mid-mounted, longitudinal
Aspiration: Single turbocharger
Fuel System: Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection
Power: approximately 160 PS
Torque: approximately 210 Nm
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Drive: Rear-wheel drive
Top Speed: approximately 200 km/h
0–100 km/h: approximately 7.7 seconds
Weight: approximately 970 kg
Wheelbase: 2430 mm
Motorsport Heritage: Group 4 rally competition

Rally-Bred Engineering

The Renault 5 Turbo was originally conceived as a competition-focused machine designed to strengthen Renault's position in international rallying.

Rather than simply increasing the performance of a conventional front-wheel-drive hatchback, Renault engineers completely redesigned the vehicle's mechanical architecture.

The engine was relocated behind the front seats, replacing the rear passenger area, while the drivetrain was configured to deliver power exclusively to the rear wheels.

This unusual arrangement transformed the Renault 5 into a purpose-built performance automobile with characteristics more commonly associated with specialized sports cars.

The significantly widened rear bodywork accommodated the engine installation, cooling requirements and wider rear track.

Large side air intakes supplied cooling air to the mechanical components, while the revised suspension and braking systems were developed to handle the car's increased performance.

The Turbo 2 retained the fundamental engineering philosophy of the original Turbo while incorporating production changes intended to reduce manufacturing costs.

Despite its relatively compact dimensions, the car offered an exceptionally distinctive combination of turbocharged power, mid-engine balance and rally-inspired handling.

Renault's Motorsport Legacy

The Renault 5 Turbo family achieved international recognition through its participation in major rally competitions during the early 1980s.

The competition versions demonstrated the potential of the compact mid-engined platform, particularly on demanding asphalt stages where agility and traction were essential.

One of the model's most celebrated achievements came at the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally, when Jean Ragnotti and Jean-Marc Andrié secured victory in a Renault 5 Turbo.

This success helped establish the car as an important symbol of Renault's motorsport engineering capabilities.

The Renault 5 Turbo program subsequently evolved through increasingly specialized competition derivatives, including the powerful Turbo Maxi rally car.

Although the Turbo 2 was primarily developed as a road-going production model, it preserved the fundamental engineering architecture and distinctive visual identity of the competition-inspired original.

Its unusual combination of a compact hatchback body, mid-mounted turbocharged engine and rear-wheel-drive layout remains exceptionally rare in automotive history.

Collector's Appeal

The Renault 5 Turbo 2 has become one of the most desirable French performance cars of the 1980s.

Its distinctive wide-body styling, mid-engine configuration, turbocharged performance and direct connection to Renault's rallying history have established a strong reputation among collectors and enthusiasts.

Unlike conventional hot hatchbacks of its era, the Turbo 2 was effectively a specialized sports car housed within a dramatically modified Renault 5 body.

Its compact dimensions, aggressive proportions and unmistakable mechanical layout make it one of the most recognizable European performance automobiles of its generation.

The model represents an important chapter in the development of turbocharged road cars and illustrates the experimental engineering philosophy that characterized many of the most exciting automotive projects of the early 1980s.

Today, the Renault 5 Turbo 2 is celebrated for its originality, motorsport heritage and distinctive driving experience.

This poster is ideal for Renault enthusiasts, collectors of classic French automobiles, rallying fans and admirers of vintage European performance engineering. It works particularly well in a home, office, garage, workshop, showroom or automotive collection.

AI disclosure: This poster design was created using generative AI and subsequently reviewed and manually edited by Shmidt.Art.