LeCar

Le Car was the North American market name used for Renault’s small hatchback based on the Renault 5, introduced as an effort to make the car more appealing to American buyers. The nameplate arrived for the 1977 model year and quickly became Renault’s best-known U.S. passenger car of the period. Early Le Cars were three-door hatchbacks, with a five-door version added later in the run. Renault’s marketing leaned heavily on the car’s French identity and economical, city-friendly character, while AMC’s dealer network helped give it a wider American reach. The model remained a niche import, but it earned a following for its simple packaging and distinctive European style. Production under the Le Car name ended in 1983, when Renault’s North American strategy shifted and the successor Alliance took over in the market. The Le Car is remembered as one of the most recognizable French economy cars sold in the United States.