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Renault Alliance   by hi joiney

History

1986 Renault Alliance coupe

Alliance limousine stretch

1987 Renault Alliance L convertible

1987 European Renault 9 interior

Relentless competition from the "Big Three," new safety regulations and two energy crises in 1973-74 and again in 1979, left American Motors in a weak position in the U.S. marketplace. The company had three product lines: a generally profitable line of government vehicles; Jeeps, which sold well and at high margins when consumers were not overly concerned about fuel efficiency; and Passenger Cars, which appealed mostly to price-sensitive buyers. However, when the bottom dropped out of the market in 1979 and all of the U.S. automakers saw sales plummet, it was AMC which faltered first.

That year, AMC signed an agreement with Renault of France giving that company a share in AMC's ownership, in exchange for the rights to sell Renault cars in the U.S. Later, Renault acquired a controlling interest, and thus was born what some were quick to call "Franco-American Motors." With the United States dollar then relatively weak against the French franc, manufacturing in the U.S. seemed the best way to grow especially since fuel prices were rising and the major U.S. carmakers had yet to bring out large numbers of small, fuel-efficient cars. Renault's thrifty, front-wheel-drive models looked like sure winners in the U.S. market and the partnership with AMC gave Renault a ready-made manufacturing base and dealer network.

The Renault 9 was voted the 1982 European Car of the Year and it quickly became France's most popular car and Renault's best selling model ever, so the car already had a well established track record. Renault executives came in to run things alongside AMC officials, and the old Nash factory in Kenosha, Wisconsin was retooled to produce an Americanized version of the European Renault 9 subcompact, which was aptly renamed Alliance. Market research found that consumers preferred the Renault name over AMC, but not strongly; thus the model was christened the Renault Alliance, with the AMC name relegated to a small sticker and to the tail end of the advertising materials. The cars were aimed at the lowest price range in the U.S. market, the Alliance had a sticker price starting at US$5,995.

Production

The Alliance was a 2- or 4-door sedan, launched in June 1982 as a 1983 model. Although it was branded as a Renault, the car bore AMC's logo on rear window decals. The Alliance appeared on Car and Driver's Ten Best list for 1983 and was the 1983 Motor Trend Car of the Year. The Alliance seemed just what the doctor ordered for AMC: modern front-drive sedans with a 163.8-inch (4,161 mm) overall length on a 97.8-inch (2,484 mm) wheelbase and a thrifty, transverse four-cylinder engine. The Alliance had a long list of standard equipment and got 37 miles per US gallon (6.4 L/100 km; 44 mpg-imp) in city driving. Fuel economy on the highway with the 5-speed manual transmission approached 60 mpg-US (3.9 L/100 km; 72 mpg-imp). It was a sensible car for a post-oil crisis period in which good fuel economy was highly prized.

The Alliance was slightly smaller on the outside than the competing first generation Ford Escort (North America), but a somewhat bigger on the inside where it looked larger and more inviting. Interior space was good for four or occasionally five people, in part due to a cleverly engineered front seat that was mounted pedestal fashion on a 9-inch (229 mm) wide central frame that allowed rear passengers to slide their feet under the front seat, and in addition to the usual recline and fore-and-aft movements, the upscale DL models got a curved track that allowed the seat to be adjusted in a "rocking" motion to find the most comfortable position for driver and passenger.

The Alliance sold well with over 142,000 of the debut 1983 models. Bolstered by two- and four-door hatchback derivatives called Encore, sales zoomed to over 208,000 the following year. However, the cars came out just in time to encounter a sag in the small-car market because as fuel prices fell, consumers began to drift away to larger automobiles, leaving the Renault-based models to scramble against low-priced Chevrolet Chevettes, Ford Escorts, and the Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon twins, as well as a slew of Japanese imports. This meant that total sales fell to 150,000 for 1985, then to 65,000 in 1986, and finally to only some 35,000 in 1987.

In addition to the sedan, the Alliance was offered as a convertible (Kenosha's first droptops since the 1968 Rebels) between 1985 and 1987. In the 1987 model year, the Encore, the shortened Alliance-based hatchback, was renamed the Alliance hatchback.

For the final 1987 model year, a limited production, high performance version of the Alliance was marketed as the 'Renault GTA. It came in 2-door sedan or convertible form and had a 95 hp (71 kW) 2.0 L engine. The GTA was an entry in the expanding "souped-up" or "hot-car" market segment as the price of gasoline decreased, and the two top models served as last-ditch sales boosters for the economical Alliance line.

The Alliance used Renault supplied OHV engine in 1.4 L and an OHC 1.7 L engine with Renix throttle-body fuel injection from the Renault Le Car. The proven four-cylinder was now dressed in the latest electronics boasting an electronically controlled fuel system, a digital ignition system, and a microprocessor to manage the optional three-speed automatic transmission. California emissions standards required the use of port injection. Power went through either a four-or five-speed manual, or a three-speed automatic transaxle. The base engine produced 64 horsepower (48 kW) to get the 2,030-pound (921 kg) Alliance from 0 to 60 mph in a leisurely 14.3 seconds, and gave it an 89-mile (143 km) top speed. Steering was rack and pinion. Suspension was fully independent via MacPherson struts in front, and a compact and quite ingenious system of transverse torsion bars and trailing arms at the rear. At just under 2,000 pounds (910 kg) for the base model, the Alliance was the also the lightest car assembled in the U.S. in its time.

Reliability

Mechanical problems and indifferent workmanship were as evident on the cars built in Kenosha, as on French-built Renaults. The 1986 Consumer Reports "Annual Auto Issue" surveyed owners after five years of ownership. The 1983 Renault Alliance scored with low ratings in "engine", "clutch", "driveline", "engine cooling", "suspension", "exhaust system", "automatic transmission", and "manual transmission" categories. A Car Talk survey with a total of 55 respondents, indicated low ratings, but many praised the fuel efficiency of their cars.

Legacy

While initial sales were promising, these concerns hurt sales. AMC's declining profit picture, combined with Renault's concerns with declining sales, hurt the Alliance's chances in the American market.

The Alliance afforded AMC the opportunity to field a new compact car without the expense of its design and tooling, still the alliance with Renault exacted a heavy price on AMC, which was required to shed its profitable AM General line of commercial and military vehicles because of U.S. Government regulations prohibiting foreign companies from owning domestic military suppliers.

Alliance production at the Kenosha plant ended in June 1987, shortly after Chrysler's buyout of AMC was announced. The damaged reputation of the Alliance would also affect attempts to launch other Renault cars, including the brief appearance of the Renault Medallion, and Eagle Premier (the latter which would be the basis for the successful Chrysler LH platform-based automobiles).

The Alliance provided many donor parts (engine and suspension) for the Sports Renault race car, a single make series created by the Sports Car Club of America in 1984. Designed by Roy Lunn, it was a low-cost purpose-built racer. The car was developed and manufactured by Renault/Jeep Sport USA in Livonia, Michigan under direction of Vic Elford, with more than five-hundred were built. Most cars still exist, although the majority have been converted to use a Ford engine (thus now known as Spec Racer Fords), and run in the SCCA club racing program.

References

^ a b c d e Brown, Andrew. "Potholes Ahead at American Motors" Fortune magazine, 1985-03-04, retrieved on 2009-10-20.

^ a b c d e f "AMC Pacer, AMC Alliance, Chrysler Buys AMC" by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide, 2007-06-07, retrieved on 2009-10-20.

^ a b c d Vance, Bill. "Motoring Memories: AMC-Renault Alliance, 1983-1987" Canadian Driver, 2007-10-12, retrieved on 2009-10-20.

^ Alsop, Ronald; Abrams, Bill (1986). The Wall Street Journal on Marketing "Alliance: Overcoming AMC Dowdy Image". Dow Jones-Irwin. pp. 5557. ISBN 9780870948961. 

^ Quella, Chad. "1983: Renault Alliance" The Spirit Is Still Alive: American Motors Corporation 1954-1987. Retrieved on August 8, 2008.

^ Flammang, James M. (1994). hronicle of the American Automobile: Over 100 Years of Auto History. Publications International. pp. 558. ISBN 9780785307785. 

^ a b TRenault Alliance Parts, Parts Train, undated, retrieved on August 8, 2008.

^ Car and Driver magazine Alliance Road Test, September, 1982.

^ Car Talk Survey Results: Renault Alliance, undated, retrieved on August 8, 2008.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: AMC Alliance

The American Motors Owners Association

The AMC Rambler Car Club

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previous Renault car timeline, 1980sresent

Type

1980s

1990s

2000s

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1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

City car

Twingo

Twingo II

Supermini

5 / 7

Super 5

Clio I

Clio II / Thalia

Clio III

Small

family car

14

9 / 11

19

Mgane I

Mgane II

Mgane III

Alliance

Large family car

18

21 / Medallion

Laguna I

Laguna II

Laguna III

Executive car

20 / 30

25

Safrane

Vel Satis

Leisure activity vehicle

Kangoo I

Kangoo II

SUV

Koleos

Mini MPV

Modus

Compact MPV

Scnic I

Scnic II

Scnic III

Large MPV

Espace I

Espace II

Espace III

Espace IV

Coup

Fuego

Avantime

Laguna Coup

Roadster

Spider

v  d  e

American Motors Corporation

1954-1987 Historic vehicles

Rambler

Ambassador by Rambler American Classic Marlin Rambler Six and V8 Rambler Rebel

Military & Commercial

AMC Mighty Mite AM General Division

AMC

Ambassador AMX AMX/3. Concord Eagle Gremlin Hornet Javelin Marlin Matador Metropolitan Pacer Rebel Spirit

Renault

LeCar Alliance Encore Fuego Medallion Premier

Rambler & AMC concept cars

XR-400 Rambler Tarpon AMC Cavalier AMC AMX-GT Amitron Electron

Affiliated with

American Motors Corporation AM General Australian Motor Industries Chrysler Hudson IKA-Renault Jeep Kelvinator Nash Motors Nash-Kelvinator Rambler Renault Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos

People

Roy Abernethy Edmund E. Anderson A.E. Barit Franois Castaing Roy D. Chapin Jr. Richard E. Cross Robert B. Evans Roy Lunn George W. Mason Gerald C. Meyers George W. Romney Helene Rother Richard A. Teague Thomas B. Jeffery Charles Nash

Related topics

Collier Motors

Category

v  d  e

American Motors road car timeline, United States market, 19541988

Type

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

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2

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4

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Subcompact

Gremlin

Spirit

Encore

Compact

Rambler

Rambler American

Hornet

Concord

Jet

Pacer

Alliance

Mid-size

Rambler Six and V8

Classic

Rebel

Matador

Rebel V8

Marlin

Matador Coupe

Full-size

Nash

Ambassador

Premier

Hudson

Sports

AMX

AMX

GTA

Javelin

Crossover

Eagle

SUV

see timeline of Jeep models

Captive import

Metropolitan

LeCar

Renault 18i/Sportwagon

Medallion

Fuego

Military vehicles

Mighty Mite

AM General trucks, Jeeps, and the HMMWV

Categories: Renault vehicles | Compact cars | Front wheel drive vehicles | Convertibles | Coupes | Hatchbacks | Sedans | 1980s automobiles

About the Author

I am an expert from China Crafts Suppliers, usually analyzes all kind of industries situation, such as lmr 400 cable, nokia data cables.
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