France
Renault introduced a new front-wheel drive range of saloons – the R9 – at the end of 1981, giving it a direct up-to-date competitor for the new-for-1981 Ford Escort. The initial engine range included 1.1 and 1.4 petrol engines; larger engined models would follow at a later date. The 1.4 version was available with a five-speed manual gearbox, a rarity in comparable cars of the time. The American market also received a version of the 9, known as the Renault Alliance, as Renault attempted to gain more popularity at the far side of the Atlantic through its partnership with the American Motors Corporation. The Renault 9 made an impact in Europe, as the continent's motoring journalists voted it Car of the Year for 1981.
Read more about this topic: 1981 In Motoring
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