An environmental project for Renault. VESTA 2 was unveiled at the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show. Standing for ‘Véhicule Économe de Systèmes et Technolgies Avancés’ or ‘Economic Vehicle of Advanced Systems and Technologies'. After two energy crises in the early 1980s, France’s Ministry of Industry proposed a project to the country’s car manufacturers to build prototypes with an average fuel consumption of less than 94.2mpg.
Renault objective became to produce a car to match the Renault 5 in terms of performance, comfort, space, and safety but with fuel consumption of less than 94.2mpg. Thus, from the outset, every car's function was rethought as it was impossible to use existing components due to them being too large. Three prototype series were eventually produced as the project progressed – VESTA 1, VESTA +, and the final prototype, VESTA 2. The objective set by the French authorities was met and exceeded by far – the VESTA 2 set a then-world record for fuel consumption by averaging 145.6mpg.
Engine & performance:
Type: 3-cylinder
Capacity: 716 cc
Power: 27 hp @ 4250 rpm
Torque: 56 Nm @ 2250 rpm
Top speed: 140 km/h
Dimensions:
Length: 3540 mm
Width: 1540 mm
Height: 1300 mm
Wheelbase: 2220 mm
Weight: 475 kg
Source: Renault; allcarindex
Images: Renault
