Renault Trafic

Renault Trafic

Manufacturer	Renault
Production	1981–present
Assembly	France GMM Luton Vehicles, Luton, United Kingdom
Predecessor	Renault Estafette
Body style(s)	Van

Renault Trafic is the trademarked name used by Renault for recent generations of its light vans.

Prior generations

First generation

Also called	Chevrolet Trafic Vauxhall Arena Opel Arena Winnebago LeSharo Itasca Phasar Tata Winger Inokom Permas
Production	1981 - 2000
Assembly	Batilly, France Barcelona, Spain Los Andes, Chile Santa Isabel, Argentina (CIADEA)
Predecessor	Renault Estafette
Class	Light commercial vehicle
Body style(s)	4/5-door van 2-door pickup truck 5-door minibus
Layout	FF layout, FR layout, 4x4
Engine(s)	1397 or 1647cc (OHV engines), 2164cc OHC Douvrin engine, 2068cc OHC Diesel Douvrin engine, 2499cc OHC diesel.
Related	Renault 18 Renault 20

The original Renault Trafic (after-Renault Type EF, Renault KZ, Renault Primaquatre, Renault Colorale, and Renault Estafette) was sold from 1980 to 2000 and was somewhat revised and updated during its lifetime. Originally the van had some variations in the front end shape depending which engine was fitted, with the original 1397cc motor fitting behind a flat grille, and the diesel engine and larger 1647cc petrol engines requiring an extended plastic grille and deeper bumper. The 1721cc OHC engine replaced the 1647cc OHV in the mid 1980s, which fitted under the shorter grille but required a small lump in the bonnet. The diesel and 2.1 petrol carried on with the extended grille. In 1990 the Trafic underwent a major front end facelift with rounder shape and a plastic bumper, the new longer body shape covering all varieties of engine.

In 1995 the Mk1 Trafic got its final facelift, with new grille, new tail lights, large double rear view mirrors and a new interior with modern dashboard and multi-adjustable seats. From 1997 they were also sold as the Opel Arena and Vauxhall Arena. Since 2007, the Mk1 Trafic has been built in India as the Tata Winger, fitted with Tata's own engines.

Winnebago

The chassis and cab of the 1980s model were sold in complete knock down (CKD) kits for Winnebago, who built the Winnebago LeSharo from 1983, and Itasca Phasar. In order for the chassis and cab version to meet United States safety and emission requirements, this version was sold with Renault's J6T/J7T: 2165 cc badged as 2.2L.

Campervan Variants

The Mk1 Trafic became popular for professional conversion into budget family motorhomes due to the flexibility of the design and the generous internal space for what was a relatively small van. Popular converters were Auto-Sleepers and Holdsworth (now defunct). Other motorhome builders using the Trafic Mk1 as a base include Elddis, Eriba and Autostar.

Opel Arena

From 1997 to 2000 the Renault Trafic was marketed as the Chevrolet Trafic and Opel Arena (Vauxhall Arena in the UK) (after-Opel Blitz (1930-1934), Opel Blitz (1934-1939, Opel Bitz (1941-1948), Opel Blitz (1948-1952), Opel Blitz (1952-1959), Opel Blitz (1960-1980), Bedford CF, and Isuzu Midi).

Tata Winger

Main article: Tata Winger

In 2007, Tata Motors announced the introduction of the Winger, a panel van and minibus based on the original generation Renault Trafic and fitted with Tata's own engines.

South America

For South America, was made in the Argentinian facility of Santa Isabel, Córdoba, for the Mercosur. In Brazil, it was badged as Chevrolet Trafic initially, and later as Renault Trafic. A pickup version was sold as the Renault Rodeo. The production ended in 2002.

Gallery

Third generation Trafic after its mid-life major facelift

Renault Trafic first generation (facelift)

Renault Trafic first generation (facelift) with high-roof body

Opel Arena

Second generation (X83; 2001–2014)

Second generation

Also called	Nissan Primastar Opel Vivaro Vauxhall Vivaro
Production	2001–2014
Assembly	GMM Luton Vehicles, Luton, United Kingdom
Class	Light commercial vehicle
Body style(s)	4-door minivan 2-door pickup truck
Engine(s)	petrol 2.0 I4 diesel 1.9 I4 2.0 I4 2.5 I4
Transmission(s)	manual 6-speed automatic 6-speed Quickshift
Wheelbase	SWB: 3,098 mm (122.0 in) LWB: 3,498 mm (137.7 in)
Length	SWB: 4,782 mm (188.3 in) LWB: 5,182 mm (204.0 in) Regular Pickup: 5,038 mm (198.3 in) Crew Pickup: 5,438 mm (214.1 in)
Width	1,904 mm (75.0 in)
Height	Crew Van: 1,380 mm (54.3 in) SWB: 2,497 mm (98.3 in) & 2,400 mm (94.5 in) LWB: 2,800 mm (110.2 in) Pickup Regular: 1,966 mm (77.4 in) Pickup Crew: 1,973 mm (77.7 in)

Renault Trafic of the French Gendarmerie (pre-facelift)

The current Trafic is the Renault-branded version of a panel van developed in a joint venture with Opel, and also sold as a Vauxhall Vivaro; it is also sold by Nissan as the Primastar.

The Trafic is built at GMM Luton Vehicles, Luton in the UK, along with the Vivaro and Primastar.

Designed by Renault's corporate design department based within the company's Technocentre outside Paris, the Trafic was developed by the engineering team of Renault's light commercial vehicle unit at Villiers-Saint-Fréderic. Manufactured by GM Manufacturing Luton at its plant in Luton—beside Primastar and the Vivaro—the Trafic was the first Renault vehicle to be built in the United Kingdom in more than 30 years.

In an agreement between Renault and Nissan, versions of the van are also manufactured at Nissan's plant in Barcelona, Spain. In particular, high roof versions for Vauxhall, Renault, and Nissan are made in Barcelona because the Luton assembly plant has a low roof which cannot accommodate the extra height of the high roof.

The van exists in several versions, from a 3-seater with all the rear space available for loads, to a 9-seater. Its name is based on the French word for "trade" or "traffic" (depending on the context).

The van was designed by Renault in Paris, and both Renault and Opel versions are manufactured by Opel at their plant in Luton. In 2012, UK production of the Vivaro totalled 36,982 and 16,483 for the Renault Trafic.

A mild facelift in 2006 saw the orange indicators swapped for clear ones more integrated into the headlamp housings. On the Opel model, the indicators moved from the front bumpers, up into the headlamp housings, thus looking more similar to the Renault.

Renault Trafic second generation (pre-facelift)

Renault Trafic second generation (phase 2 facelift)

Nissan Primastar

The Nissan Primastar, was also launched in 2001, and is available in panel van, combi, bus and chassis cab configurations. Two wheelbases and two roof heights are available, as well as three diesel engines and a petrol.

Nissan Primastar with options including colour-coded bumpers

Nissan Primastar, post-facelift — note revised indicator lights

Opel Vivaro A

The Opel Vivaro (after-Opel Blitz (1930-1934), Opel Blitz (1934-1939, Opel Bitz (1941-1948), Opel Blitz (1948-1952), Opel Blitz (1952-1959), Opel Blitz (1960-1980), Bedford CF, Isuzu Midi, and Opel Arena) from the German automaker Opel launched in 2001. While the Vivaro is sold as an Opel in most European markets, in the United Kingdom it is sold as a Vauxhall. The Vivaro is primarily manufactured at GM Manufacturing Luton (previously IBC) in Luton, England and by Nissan at their Zona Franca (Barcelona) facility in Spain.

The Vivaro is available in panel van, minibus, combined bus/van and platform crew-cab configurations. Two different wheelbase styles and two roof heights options are also available, as well as three diesel engine power options and a petrol engine.

The vehicle was given a mild facelift in 2006 during which the front indicators were moved from the front bumper, up into the headlight housing and only a 2.0 L four-cylinder diesel engine is available in two states of tune; a 90 PS (66 kW/89 bhp) or 115 PS (85 kW/113 bhp) mated to a six-speed manual or optional automatic transmission.

The Vivaro e-Concept debuted September 2010 at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover, Germany. It is plug-in hybrid vehicle, with an extended range of up to 250 miles (400 km) and includes 21 kWh lithium ion batteries enabling over 60 miles (97 km) of pure electric driving range.

Pre-facelift Opel Vivaro 2001-2006

Facelift Opel Vivaro 2006-2014

Facelift Opel Vivaro 2006-2014

Vauxhall Vivaro 2003

Opel Vivaro E-Concept 2009

Engines

Petrol engines
Model	Engine type	Power	Torque
2.0	1,997 cc (122 cu in) I4 NA	120 PS (88 kW/118 hp)	190 N·m (140 lb·ft)
Diesel engines
Model	Engine type	Power	Torque
1.9 dCi	1,870 cc (114 cu in) I4 turbo	100 PS (74 kW/99 hp)	240 N·m (177 lb·ft)
2.0 dCi	1,995 cc (122 cu in) I4 turbo	90 PS (66 kW/89 hp)	242 N·m (178 lb·ft)
2.0 dCi	1,995 cc (122 cu in) I4 turbo	115 PS (85 kW/113 hp)	290 N·m (214 lb·ft)
2.5 dCi	2,488 cc (152 cu in) I4 turbo	150 PS (110 kW/148 hp)	320 N·m (236 lb·ft)

Mexico

The Renault Trafic has been available in Mexico since early May 2007.

India

In 2007, Tata Motors announced the Winger, a panel van based on the old-generation Renault Traffic platform.

Third generation (X82; 2014–present)

Third generation

Also called	Opel Vivaro Vauxhall Vivaro Nissan Primastar
Production	2014–present
Assembly	Sandouville, France Luton, United Kingdom

Renault released a new generation in 2014. It is again sold by Opel in Europe. Production was centralized to the Sandouville factory in France for Renault and Nissan; Opel/Vauxhall variants for the UK and mainland Europe continue to be manufactured at Luton, except for the high-roof variants which are manufactured at Sandouville.

External links

• Renault Trafic official information
• The original Renault Trafic as a camper van (includes a photo of the original Trafic, pre-facelift)

References

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Renault Trafic