The Renault Safrane I (B54), produced between 1992 and 1996, was a large family car marketed primarily in Europe. Positioned above the Renault 25, the Safrane aimed to offer a more sophisticated and comfortable alternative within the executive car segment. While never officially sold in the United States, the Safrane represented Renault’s attempt to compete with established German and British marques like the BMW 5 Series and Ford Granada. It was a significant model for Renault, showcasing advancements in comfort, safety, and technology for the era.
Renault Safrane I (B54): An Overview
The Safrane was notable for its distinctive styling, penned by Jean-Pierre Sèche, and its spacious interior. It was available with a range of engines, including both petrol and diesel options, but the 3.0 V6 model, producing 167 horsepower, was considered the flagship. The Safrane’s design emphasized practicality with a hatchback body style, offering enhanced cargo versatility compared to traditional sedans. It was a car designed for long-distance comfort and family use, prioritizing a smooth ride and a well-appointed cabin.
Engine & Performance
The heart of the Safrane I (B54) 3.0 V6 was the Z7X engine, a 2.975-liter naturally aspirated V6. This engine produced 167 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 235 Nm (173.33 lb.-ft.) of torque at 4500 rpm. The engine featured multi-port fuel injection and an overhead camshaft (OHC) valvetrain with two valves per cylinder. This configuration delivered a respectable power-to-weight ratio of 8.8 kg/Hp and a power-per-liter output of 56.1 Hp/l. Paired with a 5-speed manual transmission, the Safrane 3.0 V6 could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 9.6 seconds, reaching a top speed of 220 km/h (136.7 mph). The 0-60 mph time was calculated at 9.1 seconds. Fuel consumption was rated at 11.3 liters per 100 kilometers (20.8 US mpg, 25 UK mpg, 8.8 km/l).
Design & Features
The Renault Safrane I (B54) adopted a five-door hatchback body style, providing a practical and versatile layout. Its exterior design was characterized by clean lines and a relatively understated elegance, avoiding the more flamboyant styling trends of some competitors. The interior focused on comfort and space, offering seating for five passengers. Key features included hydraulic power steering, ventilated front disc brakes, and disc brakes on the rear axle. Safety features for the time included an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), which was becoming increasingly common in the executive car segment. The Safrane’s spacious trunk offered a minimum capacity of 480 liters (16.95 cubic feet), further enhancing its practicality. The car’s dimensions were substantial, measuring 4736 mm (186.46 in) in length, 1790 mm (70.47 in) in width, and 1414 mm (55.67 in) in height, with a wheelbase of 2766 mm (108.9 in).
Technical Specifications
| Brand | Renault |
| Model | Safrane |
| Generation | Safrane I (B54) |
| Type (Engine) | 3.0 V6 (B54B,B544) (167 Hp) |
| Start of production | 1992 |
| End of production | 1996 |
| Powertrain Architecture | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type | Hatchback |
| Seats | 5 |
| Doors | 5 |
| Fuel consumption (combined) | 11.3 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (US mpg) | 20.8 US mpg |
| Fuel consumption (UK mpg) | 25 UK mpg |
| Fuel consumption (km/l) | 8.8 km/l |
| Fuel Type | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h | 9.6 sec |
| Acceleration 0 – 62 mph | 9.6 sec |
| Acceleration 0 – 60 mph | 9.1 sec |
| Maximum speed | 220 km/h |
| Maximum speed (mph) | 136.7 mph |
| Weight-to-power ratio | 8.8 kg/Hp |
| Weight-to-torque ratio | 6.2 kg/Nm |
| Power | 167 Hp @ 5500 rpm |
| Power per litre | 56.1 Hp/l |
| Torque | 235 Nm @ 4500 rpm |
| Torque (lb.-ft.) | 173.33 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm |
| Engine layout | Front, Transverse |
| Engine Model/Code | Z7X |
| Engine displacement | 2975 cm3 |
| Engine displacement (cu. in.) | 181.55 cu. in. |
| Number of cylinders | 6 |
| Engine configuration | V-engine |
| Cylinder Bore | 93 mm |
| Cylinder Bore (in.) | 3.66 in. |
| Piston Stroke | 73 mm |
| Piston Stroke (in.) | 2.87 in. |
| Compression ratio | 9.6:1 |
| Number of valves per cylinder | 2 |
| Fuel injection system | Multi-port manifold injection |
| Engine aspiration | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Valvetrain | OHC |
| Engine oil capacity | 7 l |
| Engine oil capacity (US qt) | 7.4 US qt |
| Engine oil capacity (UK qt) | 6.16 UK qt |
| Coolant | 10 l |
| Coolant (US qt) | 10.57 US qt |
| Coolant (UK qt) | 8.8 UK qt |
| Kerb Weight | 1465 kg |
| Kerb Weight (lbs.) | 3229.77 lbs. |
| Max. weight | 1990 kg |
| Max. weight (lbs.) | 4387.2 lbs. |
| Max load | 525 kg |
| Max load (lbs.) | 1157.43 lbs. |
| Trunk (boot) space – minimum | 480 l |
| Trunk (boot) space – minimum (cu. ft.) | 16.95 cu. ft. |
| Fuel tank capacity | 80 l |
| Fuel tank capacity (US gal) | 21.13 US gal |
| Fuel tank capacity (UK gal) | 17.6 UK gal |
| Length | 4736 mm |
| Length (in.) | 186.46 in. |
| Width | 1790 mm |
| Width (in.) | 70.47 in. |
| Height | 1414 mm |
| Height (in.) | 55.67 in. |
| Wheelbase | 2766 mm |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 108.9 in. |
| Front track | 1530 mm |
| Front track (in.) | 60.24 in. |
| Rear (Back) track | 1487 mm |
| Rear (Back) track (in.) | 58.54 in. |
| Drivetrain Architecture | Front wheel drive |
| Number of gears and type of gearbox | 5 gears, manual transmission |
| Front suspension | Wishbone |
| Rear suspension | Spring Strut |
| Front brakes | Ventilated discs |
| Rear brakes | Disc |
| Assisting systems | ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
| Steering type | Steering rack and pinion |
| Power steering | Hydraulic Steering |
| Tires size | 195/65 R15 |
| Wheel rims size | 15 |
