The Renault R-series was a range of

heavy-duty truck Truck classifications are typically based upon the maximum loaded weight of the truck, typically using the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and sometimes also the gross trailer weight rating (GTWR), and can vary among jurisdictions. United ...

s built by Renault Véhicles Industrielles (RVI) from 1980 until 1996. The cabin was Berliet's KB 2400 model, originally introduced in 1970 for their GR/TR range. The fusion of

Saviem The Société Anonyme de Véhicules Industriels et d'Équipements Mécaniques (), commonly known by the acronym Saviem (), was a French manufacturer of trucks and buses/coaches part of the Renault group, headquartered in Suresnes, Île-de-France ...

and

Berliet Berliet was a French manufacturer of automobiles, buses, trucks and military vehicles among other vehicles based in Vénissieux, outside of Lyon, France. Founded in 1899, and apart from a five-year period from 1944 to 1949 when it was put into 'a ...

into RVI brought with it a consolidation of the lineups, although the Saviem and Berliet badges continued to be used for some time. The KB 2400 cabin was also used by Ford Transcontinental. The R-series ranged from the smallest R280 to the V8-powered R420.

History

Originally built by Berliet, the truck became the top-of-the-line offering in Renault's new heavy commercial vehicle line. Sold as the R-series, it offered a range of engines in models from the original R310 up to the V8-engined R420. Most models were inline-sixes. The R-series overlapped the more compact, more utilitarian G-series, and was meant for longer distance journeys where driver comfort is of more importance. ''TRUCK'', December 1986, p. 74 The R340 appeared at the 1986

Paris Salon The Salon (), or rarely Paris Salon (French: ''Salon de Paris'' ), beginning in 1667 was the official art exhibition of the in Paris. Between 1748 and 1890 it was arguably the greatest annual or biennial art event in the Western world. At the ...

, being a modified version of the twelve-litre inline-six also used in the R310. A high-roofed model with a bonded and riveted fibreglass extension called the Turboliner was also sold, beginning in 1986. In 1990 the R-series received a facelift, with a body-colored grille and a more aerodynamic appearance. In 1992 the line was renamed Renault Major. In 1996, the R-series was replaced by the new

Renault Premium The Renault Premium is a heavy-duty truck that was produced by the French Manufacturer Renault Véhicules Industriels and later Renault Trucks (also part of Renault, now Volvo) from 1996 to 2014. It was sold alongside the Renault Magnum as a ...

Engines

The R was mostly equipped with Renault's 12-litre, G-series turbodiesel inline-six, although some higher powered models (R360, 370, 390, 420) received a 14.88 L V8 unit. The smaller 9.8 liter G-series engine was also available in the R330 and the R340 ti. The most powerful six was the R385 ti of the 1990s. Eight-cylinder models' bodyshell was actually coded KB 2480.

References

{{Renault Trucks timeline R Berliet Vehicles introduced in 1980 Cab over vehicles Tractor units