Renault Fiftie
Encyclopedia
The Renault Fiftie was a concept car
presented in 1996 by Renault
to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the launch of the 4CV
. Its exterior styling drew heavily on its illustrious ancestor's, as did the choice of a rear-wheel-drive layout. However, the Fiftie was a two-door, mid-engine design whereas the 4CV
had four doors and a rear-mounted engine. The interior was a styling exercise aimed at creating a "refreshing" environment through extensive use of cotton
, linen
, and rattan
.
Contrary to many concept car
s designed for static display only, the Fiftie was fully roadworthy, as it shared most of the Renault Sport Spider
's well-proven chassis, suspension, and mechanical organs. The Fiftie was also a showcase for the all-new D7F 1.2-liter, 8-valve four-cylinder engine that was just completing development at the time and was officially introduced on the Twingo
shortly afterwards.
The Fiftie received generally good reviews but did not cause a massive surge in customer demand for a production version, unlike Volkswagen's Concept 1 concept car
that eventually became the New Beetle. Renault
took no further action and the Fiftie remained what it had been intended to be—a friendly one-off "wink" to a legend of France
's carmaking past.
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
presented in 1996 by Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the launch of the 4CV
Renault 4CV
The Renault 4CV was an economy car produced by the French manufacturer Renault from August 1947-July 1961. The first French car to sell over a million units, the 4CV was ultimately superseded by the Renault Dauphine....
. Its exterior styling drew heavily on its illustrious ancestor's, as did the choice of a rear-wheel-drive layout. However, the Fiftie was a two-door, mid-engine design whereas the 4CV
Renault 4CV
The Renault 4CV was an economy car produced by the French manufacturer Renault from August 1947-July 1961. The first French car to sell over a million units, the 4CV was ultimately superseded by the Renault Dauphine....
had four doors and a rear-mounted engine. The interior was a styling exercise aimed at creating a "refreshing" environment through extensive use of cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
, linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
, and rattan
Rattan
Rattan is the name for the roughly 600 species of palms in the tribe Calameae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia.- Structure :...
.
Contrary to many concept car
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
s designed for static display only, the Fiftie was fully roadworthy, as it shared most of the Renault Sport Spider
Renault Spider
The Renault Sport Spider is a roadster produced by the French automaker Renault Sport between 1995 and 1997.-Project:...
's well-proven chassis, suspension, and mechanical organs. The Fiftie was also a showcase for the all-new D7F 1.2-liter, 8-valve four-cylinder engine that was just completing development at the time and was officially introduced on the Twingo
Renault Twingo
The Renault Twingo is a city car built by French automaker Renault, first presented at the Paris Motor Show in September 1992 and sold in continental European markets beginning in 1993...
shortly afterwards.
The Fiftie received generally good reviews but did not cause a massive surge in customer demand for a production version, unlike Volkswagen's Concept 1 concept car
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
that eventually became the New Beetle. Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
took no further action and the Fiftie remained what it had been intended to be—a friendly one-off "wink" to a legend of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's carmaking past.