Of all the most iconic French cars in history, why is the Renault 8 Gordini the biggest standout ever emerged from the said country? Let's have a quick dive into one of the most iconic cars from Renault's history books.
The Renault 8 was launched in 1962 and runs on the same mechanicals as the Dauphine. It features a newly-developed 1.0L Cleon-Fronte engine producing 43HP of power and class-first disc brakes on all wheels. Two years later, Gordini made some modifications to the Renault 8 such as bumping the said engine with more power courtesy of its cross-flow head with sub-combustion chambers and dual twin0choke carburetors, not to mention the additional 0.1L displacement to make it a 1.1L engine. Following the success of the R8 Gordini, the most powerful version of the said car, the R8 Gordini 1300 was unveiled in 1966. The 1.3L engine that powers it produces 102HP of power and it's mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
The R8 Gordini was heavily praised for its motorsport accomplishments such as dominating the Tour de Course and other races for three years in a row since 1964 and then two years later, it starred in its own one-make race series called the Gordini Cup; a stepping stone for future professional drivers.
Judging by its motorsport pedigree, it's no wonder why the Renault 8 Gordini is the biggest standout of the French motorsports scene of the 1960s. With its short size, nimble handling, and its 1.3L engine which is tiny even by modern standards, most speedo boys believe that driving the R8 Gordini feels as easy as riding a bike on a Sunday afternoon. Speedo boys are impressed by the R8 Gordini's racing pedigree which is part of Renault's heritage and culture, but for me, I want something more with...The Sorcerer.
Using the streets of Guanajuato as my lab, the R8 Gordini is prepared to take on the extremes as it takes on a cross-country circuit race against other classic cars. Let's find out if this thing can survive on its own. Ready? Roll the tape.
Wow, it barely survived despite a broken gearbox following the massive jump but hey, it's a French thing.
As super saloons evolved, nothing can match the reputation of the ancient Renault 8 Gordini. With its motorsport pedigree involved in this tiny little French sedan, it truly is one of Renault's all-time greats.
Like it or not, feel free to enjoy driving the R8 Gordini in Forza Horizon 5 as a DLC Car, just to give what's like to drive The Sorcerer. After all, it's a G thing.
