Renault Express

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Renault Express
Overview
Manufacturer	Renault
Also called	Renault Extra Renault Rapid
Production	1985–2000 1995–2001 (South America)[1]
Assembly	France Palencia, Spain Montevideo, Uruguay Taichung, Taiwan (Sanfu Motors)
Body and chassis
Class	Light commercial vehicle
Body style	Van
Related	Renault 5
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,580 mm (101.6 in)
Length	4,056 mm (159.7 in)
Width	1,566 mm (61.7 in)
Height	1,776 mm (69.9 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	Renault R4 F6
Successor	Renault Kangoo Renault Express (2020)

The Renault Express is a panel van of the French automobile manufacturer Renault, which in July 1985 succeeded the R4 Fourgonette in the market.^[2] It was based on the second generation Renault 5.

It was commercialised in some European countries as the Renault Extra (United Kingdom and Ireland), Renault Rapid (mainly German-speaking countries) or Renault Express (in France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, Taiwan). The vehicle stayed in production until April 2001 in Uruguay, where it was produced for South America by Nordex S.A..^[3]

Express I Rear

Express with open "giraffe hatch"

Phase I Pickup in Taiwan by Sanfu Motor

Technically, the Express was based on the second generation of the Renault 5 to which it is identical, except for a few stylistic changes, back to the A-pillar. It also uses the shorter front doors of the 5-door car.

Special features of the Express compared to the Renault 5 were the lengthened wheelbase by about 15cm, the raised roof over the driver's cab and the box structure behind the B-pillar. The vehicle came as a non or partially glazed panel van version with up to two seats or as a glazed combi with five seats. Rear access was via double doors in the rear (with or without 'giraffe hatch' above for long items) or wia a large, upward opening tailgate. The Express was also supplied as pickup, as standard factory wheelchair vans or with various special bodies (refrigerated trucks, workshop vehicles available, etcetera).

As with its predecessors, the Renault 4 F4 and F6, all wheels were individually suspended: The front by MacPherson struts and wishbones and the rear by trailing arms with torsion bars. Most similar vehicles, such as the Volkswagen Caddy or Opel Combo and others had a rear dead axle with leaf springs. Ford bought in the Renault Express rear suspension for their 1990s Fiesta Courier.

Two facelifts was carried out during the vehicle's production run.

The first version (Phase 1) was built from the middle of 1985 until the summer of 1991. Renault first offered a panel van with a 1595cc diesel engine (40 kW/54 hp), while the petrol engines came from the Renault 5.

In the summer of 1991, a revision was carried out for Phase 2. The engine range changed, because now partially engines from the Renault Clio were used. Added to this was, among other things, a 1870cc diesel engine with 47 kW (64 hp). Also added was a modernised radiator grille, which was moulded in grey plastic. New headlamps were also added to this phase.

The Phase 3 of the model was from the beginning of 1994 until its replacement, the Kangoo, was launched in the end of 1997. The biggest differentiators were higher quality materials, the radiator grille in body colour and the slightly revised tail lights. A driver's airbag was added as an optional extra. Not only was the safety equipment upgraded, the comfort features, such as central locking with remote control, were updated as well. The 1598cc diesel engine was dropped; in favour of an updated 1870cc engine. Production ended in July 2000.

• 
  Phase II
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  Phase II Rear
• 
  Phase III
• 
  Phase III Rear

• Media related to Renault Express at Wikimedia Commons