Miguel Sánchez
In absolute terms, the maximum expression of the sports sedans of the eighties and nineties was not the Renault Safrane Biturbo but possibly the Mercedes 500E. Profiled and assembled by Porsche, the former top of the range W124 series managed to extract up to 8 HP from its 5-liter V326 block without the need to apply supercharging.
In short, an achievement capable of signing one of the best and most balanced unions ever made between power and comfort. However, it is fair to recognize how the Safrane Biturbo presented in 1993 It represents another of the unquestionable milestones for the sports saloons of those years.
And the fact is that, even remaining at around 268 HP even with the help of a twin turbo in cascade, the truth is that the model from the house of the rhombus took the concept further than any other. benefits based on a general basis with permission of the always fast Lotus-Opel Omega and its incredible 380 HP thanks to the action of two turbochargers.
Followed closely by the 340 HP of the E34 M5, whose mix of power and agile performance even for being a voluminous three-body signed one of the best pages in the extensive history of modifications under the seal of the Motorsport division. Of course, its starting point is more effective and exclusive than that of the Safrane Biturbo, which once again puts on the table the relevance of the Frenchman due to the enormous distance marked with its range brothers.
RENAULT SAFRANE, SUBSTITUTE FOR THE R25
With its 205 HP, the Renault 25 V6 Turbo had been a more than correct top of the range for this saloon. Furthermore, in the rest of its range it had met many of the company's expectations in terms of sales when it was produced. more than 750.000 units during its nine years of commercial life; all seasoned with versions as interesting and colorful as Baccara.
In short, a bet with a positive balance despite - let's be honest - quite a few problems with the power of the brakes or the electronic system. in relation to its first series. And that's not to mention the up to three transmission changes in the automatic versions, which never enjoyed proper fame and reliability due to this.
Thus, the Renault 25 once again put on the table the inability of the French industry to compete on an equal footing with the German industry.in relation to sedans “premium". Something that was not entirely bad, since at the same time this caused an interesting commercial dominance in what we could call the “access ladder” to the same
A terrain where the Renault Safrane arrived in 1992 with a sober mechanical offer started with 2-liter four-cylinder blocks to climb up to the V6 with 3 liters and 167 HP. In short, a vehicle as spacious and comfortable as it lacks charm capable of putting it on a par with BMWs and Mercedes.
USING TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERIENCE
I don't know very well the reason or the intentions of such an idea, but the fact is that a few months after launching the Safrane, Renault management wanted to have a particularly striking version of the same. Rationally one stops to think and, the truth is, they knew well in the house of the rhombus that they could not compete with the German manufacturers.
What's more, doing it within a market niche as determined as that of sports sedans made no sense; It was as much as embarking on a fight with everything against and, furthermore, only capable of reporting very meager benefits if it does not end in financial tragedy. Of course, given that Renault had accumulated enormous experience with turbochargers During the eighties that was not so impossible.
What's more, the 21 Turbo Quadra of 1991 had already successfully debuted permanent all-wheel drive thanks to an epicyclic type center differential with a distribution of 65% and 35% between the front and rear axles respectively. That said, the opportunity to present a version of the Safrane capable of devouring highways for both power and traction was just around the corner. And yes, he took advantage.
RENAULT SAFRANE BITURBO, SEVERAL STEPS FURTHER
Reviewing the presentation range of the Renault Safrane, the 3.0i version stands out at the top. Characterized by its V6 drilled up to three liters, its mechanics had the particularity of belonging to the wide family of models equipped with PRV engines. Those that, since 1974, represented the fruit of the collaboration between Peugeot, Renault and Volvo.
By the way, not only with an extensive history in sedans like the Citroën XM, but also in sports cars like the Alpine A610 or even competition units in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In short, one of the most interesting engine blocks for the second half of the XNUMXth century and which, in the Safrane Biturbo, enjoyed the benefits of supercharging for reach up to 268 hp.
Of course, having said this we have to make a clarification and that is that we are not talking so much about the unison action of two turbochargers but about the application of one at low revolutions, adding another when the engine climbed in the same. Something that one day we will talk about in a more technical article dedicated to “cascade turbo” and that, although easy to design, is extremely complex to manufacture.
BACK TO THE COLLECTION MARKET
Just over 800 units of the Renault Safrane Biturbo were manufactured before being withdrawn after just a year and a half in dealerships. A situation not due to a premeditated attempt to maintain the scarcity of the model and therefore the exclusivity but, rather, to a simple and straightforward debacle in sales.
In this sense, the sale price did not collaborate; up to that time the highest for a Renault saloon and, in exchange for current prices, possibly the corresponding to the most expensive brand model of all those marketed after World War II.
However, the main reason for understanding the lack of success of such an excellent model on paper - let us not forget how with the package Baccara It also added high levels of luxury finishes - it has to do with the logo installed on its front.
And, although it may seem completely absurd to us and even deeply embarrassing, many buyers related to high-end products do not buy consciously, rationally and analytically based on a technological analysis. Far from it, they buy because of the intuition of the brand, because of the desire to show off a certain social position with a certain vehicle.
As it is, sadly the Safrane Biturbo is still a Renault no matter how exquisite it is in his technique. Something he couldn't compete against Mercedes and BMW because of their brand image. And sometimes the world is that snobbish.
Note: If you find one, buy it. You will enjoy a rational acquisition that will also now tend towards revaluation.
