The
Renault Voiturette (Renault Little Car) was
RenaultRenault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, buses, tractors, and trucks. Due to its alliance with Nissan, it is currently the world's fourth largest automaker. Headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, Renault owns the Romanian automaker Automobile Dacia and the Korean automaker Renault...
's first ever produced automobile, and was manufactured between 1898 and 1903. The name was used for five models.
The first Voiturettes mounted
De Dion-BoutonDe Dion-Bouton was a French automobile manufacturer and railcar manufacturer operating from 1883 to 1932. The company was founded by Comte Jules-Albert de Dion, Georges Bouton and his brother-in-law Charles Trépardoux....
engines, which were used until the mid seventies for several Renault automobiles.
ContinentalContinental is the adjective form of continent. Continental may refer to:* Continental , an album by UK band Saint Etienne* Continental , a brand of dried and pre-packaged foods used by Unilever in Australia...
tires were used for the car, and curiosly, several modern Renaults still use Continental.
The first Voiturette was designed by the maker's creator
Louis RenaultLouis Renault may refer to:* Louis Renault * Louis Renault * A character from Casablanca...
in 1898.
The
Renault Voiturette (Renault Little Car) was
RenaultRenault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, buses, tractors, and trucks. Due to its alliance with Nissan, it is currently the world's fourth largest automaker. Headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, Renault owns the Romanian automaker Automobile Dacia and the Korean automaker Renault...
's first ever produced automobile, and was manufactured between 1898 and 1903. The name was used for five models.
The first Voiturettes mounted
De Dion-BoutonDe Dion-Bouton was a French automobile manufacturer and railcar manufacturer operating from 1883 to 1932. The company was founded by Comte Jules-Albert de Dion, Georges Bouton and his brother-in-law Charles Trépardoux....
engines, which were used until the mid seventies for several Renault automobiles.
ContinentalContinental is the adjective form of continent. Continental may refer to:* Continental , an album by UK band Saint Etienne* Continental , a brand of dried and pre-packaged foods used by Unilever in Australia...
tires were used for the car, and curiosly, several modern Renaults still use Continental.
Voiturette Type A
The first Voiturette was designed by the maker's creator
Louis RenaultLouis Renault may refer to:* Louis Renault * Louis Renault * A character from Casablanca...
in 1898. The first Voiturette was sold to a friend of Louis' father after going for a ride with Louis through Lepic street on December 24, 1898. Twelve more cars were sold that night. The main reason for the man to buy the car was the incredible ability of the car to climb streets without any difficulty and its fuel economy.
The car mounted a De Dion-Bouton 1 cylinder engine, which allowed it to reach a top speed of .
Voiturette Type B
The Type B was basically the same Voiturette. However, the difference was the strange aspect of the car, including a roof and two doors. Louis Renault invented the sedan in 1899.
Voiturette Type C
The Type C was Renault's first four-passenger car. After several mechanical and physical modifications, the car was launched in 1900.
The car was presented in the 1900
Mondial de l'AutomobileThe Paris Motor Show is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held in the autumn, it is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The show was the first motor show in the world, started in 1898 by industry pioneer, Albert de Dion. The show...
at
ParisParis is the capital of France and the country's most populous city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, presenting for the first time Renault Frères as an automobile maker.
Voiturette Type D/E/G
The Type D and E Voiturettes were similar to the Type C but with some differences, mostly the 5CV upgraded engine. The Type D was identical to the Type C excepting the retractable roof and the Type E showed a longer roof than that of the Type B, but without any door.
The Type G used the same chassis and body style than the Type D and E but with an upgraded engine.