Why The Renault Sport Spider Is A 90s Hero Car
Source: Classicandperformancecar.comRenault spent much of the 1990s as Formula One's leading engine supplier, powering four Driver's and six Constructor's championships. Yet its road car range had virtually no performance models. There was the now-legendary Clio Williams and the 911-rivalling Alpine A610, but by 1995 both had been discontinued. Renault needed something completely new, so turned to its in-house racing division, Renault Sport.
Renault set up Renault Sport in 1976, famously introducing turbocharging to F1 when it joined the grid in '77. RS handled all of Renault's racing activities, including taking victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours in '78. But it wasn't until the Spider was introduced in 1996 that Renault Sport became the manufacturer's sub-brand for hot cars.
The Spider was first seen as a concept car at the Geneva Motor Show in 1995. It made a huge impact, looking like it had just come off a race track, with a stripped-bare interior and no windscreen. The specs were just as race-influenced. The Spider was built around a welded aluminium box chassis with composite plastic body panels. Power came from the Clio Williams' 148bhp, 2-litre motor and five-speed gearbox, rotated 180 degrees and plonked behind the driver.
The Spider's low, wide, wheel-at-each-corner stance made it every inch the road-going racer. That was no coincidence, as it was designed from the outset to double as a racing car, taking part in its own one-make series. The Renault Spider Trophy cars featured a tuned, 180bhp engine, six-speed 'box and racing tyres. A young Jason Plato swept the board in 1996's inaugural season, earning a seat with Renault's Williams-run British Touring Car Championship team. Now he holds the record for the most wins in BTCC history, currently standing at 78.
As a road car, the Spider was a very hardcore proposition when it hit the streets in 1996. Early models were left-hand drive only, and shared the concept's lack of a windscreen. A wind deflector helped keep your hair in place, but couldn't stop stones smacking you in the face. A helmet was a must for longer drives.
In '97 the UK got a RHD version that came with (shock!) an actual windscreen. With a wiper! The overall look lost some of its drama, but at least the cockpit had some protection from the elements. But it still didn't have a hood. Or even a heater. It rather set the tone for the whole driving experience. The RS Spider was a car you had to drive, doing without power steering, or anti-lock brakes, or even a servo. It was a car that put you right into the thick of the action.
Renault wanted the Spider to deliver single-seater thrills on the road, which it did with ease. So why is it now largely forgotten? Two words: Lotus Elise.
Launched shortly after the Spider, Norfolk's finest was more practical, sharper to drive and significantly cheaper; the Spider cost an enormous £28,000. The Elise is still regarded as one of the greatest driver's cars of all time and, for a while at least, it kept Lotus afloat. Amazingly the two cars' chassis were built by the same Danish company. Rumour has it Renault didn't realise Lotus was developing its revolutionary (much lighter) bonded construction technology until it had signed-off its welded chassis design.
Around 1800 Renault Sport Spiders were built between 1996 and 1999. It has always had a loyal following, though it's yet to gain wider recognition. But that isn't really the point. The Spider's legacy is that it introduced the world to the Renault Sport brand. Renamed Renaultsport, the Dieppe-based outfit has gone on to produce some of the greatest hot hatches ever seen. For that alone, the Spider deserves much respect.
Built: 1996 - 1999Engine: 1998cc, 16-valves, 4-cylindersPower: 148bhpTorque: 136lb/ft0-60mph: 6.5 secondsTop speed: 131mphWeight: 845kg
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