Renault built a Safrane with a 262 PS twin-turbo Alpine A610 V6 and all-wheel drive, then made only 806 of them before killing it in 1996.
Lead trim: 2.0 J7R 8v (107 PS) · up to 258 hp
Renault Safrane1992–2000
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FactRenault built a Safrane with a 262 PS twin-turbo Alpine A610 V6 and all-wheel drive, then made only 806 of them before killing it in 1996.
Renault's executive flagship, launched in April 1992 to replace the 25, carrying over its five-door hatchback / notchback shape despite the segment's preference for saloons. Its transverse engines drive the front wheels, with four-wheel drive on some versions, and it was the first Renault with airbags. To fix the 25's weak chassis stiffness and build quality Renault made it 200-300 kg heavier, with extensive soundproofing; critics praised its comfort and noise insulation but not its cable-actuated gearshift, a first on a Renault. In 1994 the Safrane Biturbo arrived, with a 262 PS twin-turbo evolution of the Alpine A610's 3.0 V6 developed with Hartge and Irmscher and permanent all-wheel drive, manual only; just 806 were built before production ended in September 1996, the year Heuliez showed a station-wagon Long Cours. A July 1996 facelift brought restyled ends, an Aisin Warner automatic and a reworked engine line-up including the Volvo four and five-cylinder petrols from Renault's short alliance with Volvo. Just over 300,000 were built; it was discontinued in December 2000, replaced in 2002 by the Vel Satis.
Collectors Spotted in the Renault Safrane Lineage
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Trims & Figures
12 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 J7R 12v (133 PS) | 1992–1996 | 2.0 L Inline-4 | 131 hp | 128 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
| 2.0 J7R 8v (107 PS) | 1992–1996 | 2.0 L Inline-4 | 106 hp | 114 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
| 2.0 N7Q 16v Volvo (136 PS) | 1996–2000 | 1.9 L Inline-4 | 134 hp | 134 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
| 2.1 J8S turbodiesel (88 PS) | 1992–1996 | 2.1 L Inline-4 | 87 hp | 136 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
| 2.2 G8T turbodiesel (113 PS) | 1996–2000 | 2.2 L Inline-4 | 111 hp | 184 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
| 2.2 J7T 12v (137 PS) | 1992–1996 | 2.2 L Inline-4 | 135 hp | 134 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
| 2.2 J7T 8v (107 PS) | 1992–1996 | 2.2 L Inline-4 | 106 hp | 129 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
| 2.5 N7U 20v Volvo five-cylinder (168 PS) | 1996–2000 | 2.4 L Inline-5 | 166 hp | 156 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
| 2.5 S8U turbodiesel (113 PS) | 1992–1996 | 2.5 L Inline-4 | 111 hp | 181 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
| 3.0 V6 L7X 24v (190 PS) | 1996–2000 | 2.9 L V6 | 187 hp | 197 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
| 3.0 V6 Z7X 12v (167 PS) | 1992–1996 | 3.0 L V6 | 165 hp | 173 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
| Biturbo 3.0 V6 twin-turbo AWD (262 PS) | 1994–1996 | 3.0 L V6 | 258 hp | 269 lb-ft | — | AWD | manual | — |
Owning one
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