All photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Hugues Vanhoolandt captures the color of the R4 at Retro between the calendar of events for the R4 Celebrations for 2011.
[Read more…] about Renault R4 Calendar of Events for 2011
The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
By vanhoolandt
All photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Hugues Vanhoolandt captures the color of the R4 at Retro between the calendar of events for the R4 Celebrations for 2011.
[Read more…] about Renault R4 Calendar of Events for 2011
By Roberto
Words by Roberto Motta
Photos by Renault Communications
Last week we brought you a bit of news about Renault’s plans for the new range of electric cars to go on sale in mid-2011.
This week, we present the DeZir electric concept car, first seen at the Paris Auto show in October 2010. The Z is for zero emissions, and the name is pronounced desire, even in French. And it is desirable—along with the Citroen Survolt certainly one of the most interesting and attractive concept cars we’ve seen in a long time. In the past few years, it seems that the French have taken the lead in both styling exercises and pushing the envelope on diesel and electric forms of propulsion.
[Read more…] about The Renault DeZir: The Emotional Concept Car
By Roberto
By Staff
Photos courtesy Renualt Communications
Despite computer technology and CADs, the design and construction of a prototype or show car is still a matter of art and heart. Clay is still clay, craftsman still create the chassis by hand, and stylists still do their magic. These recent photos showing the development of the fantastic DeZir electric car seem to reinforce those thoughts. Enjoy.
By Roberto
by Roberto Motta
Photos: Renault communication- RENAULT INTERNAL/PRESS
You may think this sad, funny, or just a sign of the times. If you Google “Renault R4”, there will be more results than if you Googled “Brigit Bardot”. [ PS: Brigitte, you have been redeemed. Reader Matthew Boyer says, “That’s only because you spelled Brigitte Bardot wrong. 1.5M hits for Renault R4 vs. 2.3M for BB.” Our faith in lechery has been restored–Ed.]
But the old R4 and its familiar French silhouette still turn heads like Bardot did in the early sixties. Not the most curvaceous of bodies, a half-century since its introduction in 1961, its fans still love the R4, like a favorite pair of blue jeans. And the R4 is the object of obsession for many collectors. Rare in the U.S.—it was never imported here—it was at least famous for its performance in the movie “Romancing the Stone” with Michael Douglas and Danny Devito.
By Roberto
Industrial espionage uncovered as Renault launches new line of electrics
News from Renault Media and Roberto Motta
Photos Renault Media
Renault President Christian Husson has suspended three senior managers after an investigation into the possible leaking of electric vehicle secrets to rivals. “The suspension of three group executives was decided following an investigation launched by the Renault group’s compliance committee. The procedure is fully standardized, highly rigorous and entirely in line with the ethical principles of our Group,” Husson said in a statement dated January 6th.
[Read more…] about New Renault Electrics–Good Enough to Steal
By Brandy
Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt and Steve Snyder
“I like cars that nobody can maintain!”
Dr. Rick Zeiger, on the restoration of Excellence sedan EX12A
The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is still the most famous in the world, and likes to feature recently restored cars that have never been shown since their restoration. This year, Dr. Rick Zeiger entered his 1958 FACEL Excellence sedan, a car that he has owned for 12 years and only recently finished. [Read more…] about Facel Vega Excellence Sedan
By pete
By Wallace Wyss with Roy Smith
Somewhere it is written that all mid-engined sports cars have to be shaped like, well, sports cars.
Whoever wrote that is wrong.
[Read more…] about Renault 5 Turbo
By pete
By Werner Pfister
Is the new Bugatti fast enough to be at two places at the same time?
On August 15, at the Pebble Beach Concours, Bugatti debuted a new model of their very successful Veyron which had been developed in secret over the past year. [Read more…] about Record Breaking Doppelganger?
By hugues
Photos and Captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt
The best of the bugs from Monterey.
By Lynch
Photos and Captions by Michael T. Lynch unless othewise noted.
[Read more…] about As We Promised–Bugatti Atlantic Update
By Lynch
By Michael T. Lynch
Much of the breathless reportage in the business and popular press of the recent sale of a Type 57SC Bugatti Atlantic focused on its price and the supposed fact that there were only two — some said three — Atlantics built.
There were actually four cars. [Read more…] about T57S Bugatti Atlantic Reappears at Pebble Beach
By pete
We last engaged Skip Cook as Philippe Defechereux described the Deutsch-Bonnet at Sebring, and Cook’s adventures running a DB coupe at the Le Mans Classic. Cook recently returned to France to drive an Alpine Renault in the California Classic Rallye event, this year held in the French Riviera. Below is his report.
PARTICIPANT’S DIARY
By Skip Cook
Photos by the author unless otherwise noted
The California Classic Rallye has been held for many years throughout California, but in the last two years has expanded its reach to Europe, first in Tuscany in 2009, and this year in the French Riviera. [Read more…] about In the Alpes Maritimes with an Alpine-Renault