The Renault 12 was a large family car that was produced by the French automobile manufacturer Renault between 1968 and 1980. It was available in sedan and station wagon models and was also manufactured and sold in various countries all over the world until the early 21st century. When first launched, the 12 was lauded by the European press for its stylish design, its impressive performance and its low fuel consumption. However, the car fared less favourably with the North American press. In a Road & Track review of the 1974 model, it was harshly criticised for its noisy engine and for the heavy, non-power steering, which the magazine described as "a serious design flaw". Furthermore, the ventilation system was also given "very poor marks". In 1980, production and sales of the 12 ended in Europe, however, the model was still produced and sold by Renault affiliates in other parts of the world. Eventually, in 1999, production of the 12 stopped in Turkey, and in 2004 production of the R12-based models ceased in Romania. The last remaining R12-based car, the Gamma pick-up, was made until 2006.
The project
In 1965, Renault set out to create a car that would bridge the gap between the Renault 8 and the 16. The objectives of Project 117 were to build a car that was economical, spacious, comfortable, easy to manufacture in multiple countries, reliable, and usable as a base for multiple variations. The design of the Renault 12 was heavily influenced by the design of the Renault 16; in fact, some of the R16 concept designs look more like the R12 than the eventual model. Despite its similarities to the R16, the 12 was technically different, with the iron cast Cléon engine placed longitudinally in front of the wheels, the gear selector located on the floor of the car and the handbrake found under the dashboard. Consequently, the suspension also differed, with the car using a rigid rear axle as opposed to four-wheel independent suspension.
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