Ivan Vicario Martin
It was called Renault Super Van Cinq and unfortunately it did not go beyond the stage of concept car. And we say unfortunately because it is a car loaded with brilliant solutions, such as expanded habitability to seven seats and a sliding door on the right side - it did not have one on the other. The author is the Gaulish coachbuilder Heuliez, creator of other rarities such as the Peugeot 204 Taxi H4, the Renault Fuego Cabriolet or family versions of cars such as the Citroën BX or AX and the Peugeot 309.
In this case, Heuliez extended the platform of the Second generation Renault 5, increasing the wheelbase from 2.408 millimeters to 2.707, just 30 centimeters which, as we will see, goes a long way. To begin with, they allow two carriers to be mounted in the space until then reserved for the trunk. In this way, you can use to carry two extra passengers or some packages. In addition, the second row of seats also folds, forming an open space that can be used for cargo. Its capacity can reach up to 1.200 liters in this configuration, although with seven passengers it barely offers 120 liters of space.
The external measurements also grow, for goes from 3.589 mm in length to 3.921, an increase well used in the interior, as we have already reported. It is also slightly taller, although the width does not change.
THE RENAULT SUPER VAN CINQ IS PRESENTED IN SOCIETY
Our protagonist made his debut at the Paris Motor Show in 1985, that is, one year after the series model. She temporarily wore the colors of the French designer Yves Saint Laurent, as seen in the catalog. The right side sliding door It attracted powerful attention, because it was very innovative at the time. An element that would take decades to reach utility vehicles like the Peugeot 1007. Heuliez experimented with this solution in other family prototypes.
After its presentation in society, the Renault Super Van Cinq It went into discreet oblivion until, in July 2012, the auction house Artcurial put it up for sale. Although Its estimated price was set between 8.000 and 12.000 euros., the truth is that the final figure was very far from those figures. Only 5.957 euros were paid for a unique and original car which was probably ahead of its time.
Photographs by Heuliez and Artcurial.
