Renault safety timeline

Louis Renault
1898
A breakthrough in safety

Louis Renault's original Voiturette featured a geartrain transmission that was more reliable and less dangerous than today's more conventional chains or belts.
Renault Front wheel brakes
1922
Front-wheel brakes

Renault's six-cylinder 18CV and 40CV models had brakes on the front wheels, and the 40CV could be fitted with Louis Renault's patented mechanical servo-brake, for stronger braking action.
Renault Independent front suspension
1937
Independent front suspension

The Juvaquatre was the first Renault with independent front suspension, for better road holding, and an all-steel monocoque structure, for better protection.
Renault The opening of Lardy
1951
The opening of Lardy

The Lardy centre (near Paris) was set up to handle tests on all future Renault vehicles. This was where the first impact resistance tests were carried out.
Renault Accidentology studies
1954
Accidentology studies

Renault set up a physiology and biomechanics laboratory run by a doctor, to help vehicle design teams develop safe cars. From this moment on, crash-tests would take on major importance in vehicle design and safety engineering.
Renault Disc brakes on small cars
1962
Disc brakes on small cars

The R8 was the first compact car to be fitted with disc brakes on all four wheels, a feature previously reserved for large cars.
Renault The LAB
1969
The LAB

Renault and PSA Peugeot-Citroen set up the joint Accident Analysis and Biomechanics Laboratory (LAB).
Renault Basic Research Vehicle
1974
Basic Research Vehicle

The BRV (Basic Research Vehicle) was developed for studies into passive safety.
Renault The safety cell
1979
The safety cell

Renault presented EPURE (vehicle for research into road user and environment protection), featuring the concept of a non-deformable cabin, and allowing for pedestrian impact.
Renault Safety - ABS
1985
ABS

ABS appeared on the R25.
Renault Safety - Protecting passengers
1993
Protecting passengers

Driver airbag and seatbelt pretensioners appeared on CLIO, R19 and SAFRANE.
Renault Safety - Permament innovation
1998
Permanent innovation

The second-generation Renault System of Restraint and Protection (SRP2) appeared, with driver and passenger airbags, load limiters, pretensioners and headrests with close-up protection.
Renault Safety - Laguna 2
2001
The first-ever 5 stars

Renault introduced ESC Electronic Stability Control on LAGUNA II, traction control and third-generation SRP. LAGUNA II became the maker's first car to obtain the top five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash-tests.
Renault Safety - MEGANE 2
2002
5 stars for MEGANE and VEL SATIS

MEGANE II and VEL SATIS obtained five-star Euro NCAP crash-test ratings.
Renault Safety - SCENIC 2
2003
5 stars for SCENIC and ESPACE

ESPACE IV and SCENIC II obtained five-star Euro NCAP crash-test ratings.
Renault Safety - MODUS
2004
Small car, perfect safety

Five-star Euro NCAP crash-test ratings were achieved by MEGANE Cabriolet and MODUS (the first five-star car of this category).
Renault Safety - CLIO 3
2005
5 stars for CLIO III

CLIO III obtained a five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating.
Renault Safety - LAGUNA 3
2007
Ground-breaking

Laguna III obtained a five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating, with a record score of 36 out of 37.
Renault Safety - MEGANE 3
2008
MEGANE III: Safest Vehicle in any category

With a score of 37 out of 37 in its Euro NCAP crash tests, MEGANE III stands out as the safest vehicle in any class ever tested by the independent road safety body. MEGANE III has safety in its genes. It is a fundamental part of the car, which was developed to set standards in both active and passive safety.
Renault Safety - Grand SCENIC 3
2009
12th model to reach 5 stars

Grand SCENIC III becomes the 12th model of the Renault range to secure Euro NCAP's maximum five-star crash-test rating, despite the stepping up of the severity of the independent body's evaluation criteria (side and rear impact, child and adult protection, pedestrian protection, equipment).
Renault Safety - CLIO 4
2012
5 stars for CLIO IV

CLIO IV was awarded a five-star rating following passive tests carried out by Euro NCAP. This result, achieved in spite of more stringent procedures from the independent body in January 2012, provides a further illustration of Renault's passive safety expertise.
Renault Safety - CAPTUR 1
2013
5 stars for CAPTUR

Renault CAPTUR achieves 5 stars at the end of passive safety tests conducted by Euro NCAP. CAPTUR becomes the fifteenth Renault to achieve 5 stars.
Renault Safety - ZOE 1
2013
5 stars for ZOE

Renault ZOE was awarded a five-star rating following the passive safety tests carried out by Euro NCAP. ZOE obtained an overall score of 82 per cent (including the maximum rating for pedestrian safety) and consequently figured among the very best models in its segment.
2019
2019
5 stars for CLIO V and CAPTUR II

CLIO is a 30 years long success story. The CLIO V kept the road-holding and safety legacy of its predecessors and got awarded the safest car in the B-Hatch category. Similarly, All-New CAPTUR received the award of the safest car in the B-SUV category.

Featuring a camera and radar-based Automatic Emergency Braking System, Lane Departure Warning and Traffic Sign Recognition, CLIO V and CAPTUR II respond to fast-moving vulnerable road-users (such as cyclists).

A commitment for the future

Tomorrow

Considering the issues related to road safety in the world, Renault is committed to improving the control of behaviour. In the future, security will be more interactive with embedded technologies allowing improvement in the detection of the environment of the vehicle to alert the driver and anticipate the activation of safety systems.

A global approach

Today

Renault is constantly developing new safety systems aimed at avoiding accidents and protecting vehicle occupants. The emphasis in development is thus placed on better prevention, better anticipation and better education, without diminishing the responsibility of the driver.