View source for Renault Sport Spider

{{Infobox automobile
| image = RenaultSport Spider - Flickr - The Car Spy (cropped).jpg
| name = Renault Sport Spider
| aka = Renault Spider
| manufacturer = [[Renault Sport]]
| production = 1996&ndash;1999
| assembly = France: [[Dieppe]], [[Seine-Maritime]] ([[Alpine (automobile)|Alpine]])
| designer = [[Patrick Le Quément]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.automotivedesignconference.com/portfolio/patrick-le-quement/|title=Patrick le Quément|website=automotivedesignconference.com|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>
| class = [[Sports car]]
| body_style = 2-door [[Roadster (automobile)|roadster]]
| layout = [[Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout|RMR layout]]
| doors = [[Scissor doors|Scissor]]
| platform = 
| related = 
| engine = 1,998&nbsp;cc [[Renault F7R engine|''F7R'']] [[Multi-valve|16-valve]] [[Straight-four engine|I4]]
| transmission = 5-speed [[Manual transmission|manual]]
| wheelbase = {{convert|2343|mm|1|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|3795|mm|1|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|1830|mm|1|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|1250|mm|1|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|930-965|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
}}

The '''Renault Sport Spider''' is a [[Roadster (automobile)|roadster]] produced by the [[France|French]] automaker [[Renault Sport]], a subsidiary of [[Renault]], between 1996 and 1999.

==Project==
The idea for the Renault Spider was formulated in the early 1990s: in the midst of a revival after a difficult second half of the 1980s, Renault wanted a car to promote it as a sporting brand (similar to the [[Renault 5 Turbo]] from a decade earlier). The Spider was intended to both serve as a [[auto racing|racing]] car, in a one-make series organized by Renault, and as a road car. The first [[prototype]]s for Project W94, as it was known at the time, were completed in mid-1994 and a [[concept car|concept]] version was presented to the public at the [[Geneva Motor Show]] a year later. The car went on sale in early 1996, assembled at the [[Alpine (automobile)|Alpine]] factory in [[Dieppe]]. Left hand drive versions were first produced with an aeroscreen device the same as the race cars. In 1997, a version with a full glass windscreen and wiper was made available.

Approximately 1640 cars were produced through 1999, with the addition of around 80 race only versions. The UK market only imported the windscreen version and 60 right hand drive cars were produced for the UK and Japan. The naturally aspirated 2-litre F7R engine produces {{convert|150|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}}.

Although it was built by Alpine in Dieppe, the Spider was the first ever road car badged as a Renault Sport and the Brand name has subsequently been used for all high performance Renault cars that are developed by the Renault Sport division which is a separate company with the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

==Features==
Designed from the outset as a driver's car, the chassis was made of [[aluminium]] for its combination of low weight and substantial strength, while the actual bodywork is a plastic composite. Unusually, the Spider did not have a roof, either folding or hard-top. The [[transmission (mechanics)|gearbox]] and the engine were one unit transversally fixed in an oscillating hinge (an arrangement inspired by [[aeronautics|aeronautical design]]), which all but eradicated the interference of engine vibration with the [[chassis]], and the pedals of the Spider were adjustable as well as the seat so the driver could achieve a better driving position. Power for the Spider came from a version of the 2-litre [[Renault F7R engine|''F7R'']] engine from the [[Renault Clio#Clio Williams|Clio Williams]] and [[Renault Mégane#Mégane I (1995–2002)|Mégane Coupe]], producing {{convert|150|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}}. Either a windscreen model (965&nbsp;kg) or a small wind deflector model was available (930&nbsp;kg). The driver wearing a helmet in vehicles without a windscreen.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="155px">
File:RenaultSport Spider - Flickr - The Car Spy (16).jpg|Rear view (UK)
File:RenaultSport Spider - Flickr - The Car Spy (11).jpg|2-litre [[Renault F7R engine|''F7R'']] engine
File:RenaultSport Spider - Flickr - The Car Spy (20).jpg|Interior (UK)
</gallery>

==Spider in motorsport==
{{Infobox motorsport championship
| logo = 
| pixels = 
| caption = 
| category = [[One-Design|One-make racing]]
| inaugural = 1995
| drivers = 
| teams = 
| constructors = [[Renault]]
| engines = 
| country/region = [[United Kingdom]]
| folded = 1999
| champion driver = 
| champion team = 
| manufacturer = 
| website = 
}}

From the outset the Spider was intended to be the basis for a new one-car racing series. Renault had been running these championships since the early 80s with the 5 Turbo, [[Renault 21|21 Turbo]], and Clio models. A special Spider Trophy edition was designed and built for the purpose, with the engine tuned to produce {{convert|180|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}}. The Spider championships ran for several years as support series to larger championships such as the [[British Touring Car Championship]] (in which it is remembered for having produced one of that series' top drivers of recent years, [[Jason Plato]], who won 11 out of 14 races in the inaugural year of the UK Spider Cup). In 1999 [[Andy Priaulx]] beat Plato's record of eight successive race wins in the Spiders by taking a clean sweep of 13 wins in all 13 races. He also qualified for each one on pole position and took fastest laps in all but two of the events.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="155px">
File:Renault Sport Spider Targa Tasmania 2008.JPG|Renault Sport Spider Targa Tasmania 2008
File:RedBackRacing Renault Sport spider Trophy.jpg|Renault Sport Spider Targa Tasmania 2007
</gallery>

===Motorsport specification===
* Power:	{{convert|143.9|kW|bhp|abbr=on}} @ 6000 rpm, torque	184.4 Nm (136.0&nbsp;lb·ft) @ 4500 rpm
* Redline:	6800 rpm
* Weight:	{{convert|854|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}
* Front brakes:	{{convert|300|mm|in|abbr=on}}, front wheels {{convert|40.6|×|20.3|cm|in|abbr=on}}, tire size 205/50VR-16
* Rear brakes:	{{convert|310|mm|in|abbr=on}}, rear wheels {{convert|40.6|×|22.9|cm|in|abbr=on}}, tire size 225/50VR-16
* Transmission:	6-speed [[Sadev]] sequential
* Top speed:	~{{convert|251|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}, {{convert|0-100|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}} ~5.8 seconds, {{frac|1|4}} mile ~14.1 seconds

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=July 2015}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Renault Spider}}
*[http://renault-sport-spider.de Renault Sport Spider German Website]—Offering photos and videos. International Spider Register
*[http://www.renaultsportclub.co.uk/ RenaultSportClub - Anything from R5 Alpine to R.S. Clio 220T Trophy]

{{Renault vehicles timeline 1980 to date, Western European and North American market}}
{{Renault}}

[[Category:Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicles]]
[[Category:Renault vehicles|Spider]]
[[Category:Roadsters]]
[[Category:Sports racing cars]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1996]]