1983 RENAULT 11 3 door 1.6L 5MT FWD (55 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Introduced in Renault’s lineup in 1983, the 3-door eleven targeted young buyers that needed more interior room than the 5 but still aimed for a sportier look of their car.

By 1983, Renault was already a well-known hatchback maker. Its 4, 5, and 20 models were highly appreciated on the market, so the French automaker felt obliged to provide a new model for young customers who were just starting their families. For that, it used the same platform as the Renault 9, a four-door sedan that has been on the market since 1981 and has already won the European “Car of the Year” award.

Apart from the obvious shape difference, these two siblings sported similar wedged shapes. In addition, while the 9 was gifted with two rectangular headlights, the 11 received four smaller ones. Later on, these headlamps were also offered for upper trim levels on the facelifted (Phase 1) version of the 9. The 3-door 11 featured a black, unpainted, plastic front bumper that looked modern for those times. Behind the doors, Renault installed wide pop-out windows for the rear passengers. Renault installed a broad windscreen at the back as part of the tailgate.

Its dashboard sported wedged shapes, with a visor above the instrument cluster. As an option, the TXE version offered an electronic display, which was the first French car with such a treat. Depending on the version, the 11 featured bucket seats or bolstered ones for the front passengers. At the same time, the rear occupants were seated on a flat-folding bench that increased the trunk’s space.

Under the hood, the 3-door 11 had a wide engine range, either gasoline or diesel. The range-topper version sported a 1.4-liter turbocharged unit, making the little, lightweight vehicle a hot-hatch of its era. In addition, it was quicker than the Golf GTI.