Renault R.S.16
Renault's 2016 comeback car, a reworked Lotus design that laid the foundations for the works team's return.
About the Renault R.S.16
The R.S.16 marked Renault's return as a constructor in 2016 after a five-year absence, with the car built at Enstone and its engine supplied from Viry-Châtillon. It began life as the Lotus E24 and had been designed around a Mercedes engine, so much of it had to be modified to take Renault's R.E.16 power unit. Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer scored only eight points between them, with Magnussen's seventh place in Russia the best result, and development stopped in July to focus on 2017. It was Renault's weakest season as a constructor since 1978.
Renault R.S.16 specs
| Make | Renault |
|---|---|
| Model | R.S.16 |
| Years | 2016 |
| Type | Race car |
| Body style | Open-wheel single-seater |
| Country | France |
| Engine | 1.6L turbocharged V6 hybrid (Renault R.E.16) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 1,600 cc (1.6 litres) |
| Induction | Turbocharged |
| Redline | 15,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed seamless-shift semi-automatic sequential |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Weight | 702 kg (1,548 lb) |
Typical figures for the standard car; options, markets and model years vary. Where our specs come from
Renault R.S.16 rarity in CarSpot
The Renault R.S.16 is a Unicorn card in CarSpot, with a rarity score of 0 out of 100. The rarest tier: hypercars, one-offs and cars built in tiny numbers, typically fewer than about 500. A Unicorn card is worth 320 XP.
Each model's tier starts from a 0–100 score based on its value plus its power or production numbers. Once enough players have spotted a model, how often it is spotted can move it up or down one tier. How CarSpot rarity works
Rarity is a collectible game mechanic, not an assessment of real-world scarcity or value.
Renault R.S.16 fun facts
- It was the first Renault-badged turbocharged car to race in Formula One since the RE60.
- Renault built a Clio R.S. 16 concept in the F1 car's colours to mark 40 years of Renault Sport, and Kevin Magnussen drove it at Monaco for its launch.
- Pastor Maldonado was originally confirmed as a driver but lost his seat shortly before the season when his sponsor PDVSA ran into financial trouble.