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There is Some Formula 1 in Every Renault. Really?

I kid you not, that’s how one of the French automaker’s most recent campaigns is titled. But is there some F1 DNA in every Renault car? Well, let’s get some things straight before we’ll decide on that.
Renault Clio RS 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
Firstly, you need to know Renault won its first constructors’ title in F1 back in 1992 through Williams and the hard work of Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese. In recent years, the Frenchies dominated the motorsport thanks to a four-in-a-row managed by Red Bull from 2010 through 2013. So Renault is pretty much covered in terms of F1 prowess, but does that bit of technology trickle down to its road-legal vehicles and minivans?

While Formula 1 gave us variable valve timing, engine management diagnostics, fly-by-wire technology, carbon-ceramic brakes and turbocharging, the sport of today features cars so advanced it will take a few years ’til that technology is going to arrive on passenger vehicles. The electric supercharger that aids the hybrid V6 power units is probably the first piece of new-age kit that will arrive in a couple of years’ time.

As for the manufacturer’s current crop of performance-oriented models (Clio RS and Megane RS come to mind), it’s hard to think of any new technology borrowed from the Formula 1 of recent years. Still, Renault is pretty bold to offer the same 200 horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged engine of the Clio RS on the new-gen Espace. I mean really - when was the last time you wanted a petrol-powered people carrier and your only option was such a potent powerhouse coupled to a double clutch EDC seven-speed auto?

So there you have it. The automaker’s new campaign may be dubbed “There is some Formula 1 in every Renault,” but the technology doesn’t reflect the sport of today. Still, the eight videos that make up the campaign are funny as hell and you need to follow this link to watch them all. If you don’t want to waste time going through them all, then the three clips below are what we consider as the funniest of the lot.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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