French car brands have been enjoying something of a renaissance over the past decade. From basic, unreliable boxes to beautiful and reliable cars we see today, few manufacturers outside of Korea have seen the huge strides in quality, reliability and desirability of French brands.
Citroën, Peugeot, Renault, Bugatti and now Dacia are all well-known French car brands, but how much do you know about them?
Citroën
Citroën was launched in 1919 by Andre Citroën. Almost immediately after the First World War devastated parts of France, Citroën saw a type of chevron shaped gear he could use in manufacturing and thought he could put it to use in cars.
Citroën launched the Type A. It was quickly followed by the B2 in 1921. Both provided sensible cars at a price people could afford in post-war France.
The B2 was then followed by the B10 with a novel halftrack design that transported them across Africa as part of the Croisiere Noire expedition to highlight how good the cars were.
Once firmly in the public eye, Citroën expanded the car lineup to include the iconic Citroën 2CV and DS range. The latter was so lucrative that it has been spun off into its own brand.
Current Citroën models include the C3, C4, C5, Citroën Berlingo van and a range of others.
Peugeot
Peugeot began life as a manufacturer of saws and coffee grinders in 1810, founded by brothers Jean-Pierre and Jean-Frédéric Peugeot. The company didn’t manufacture their first car until 1889.
The steam powered Serpollet was the company’s first car and carried the familiar lion logo, originally designed to represent the strength of the saw’s teeth.
After the Serpollet, Peugeot left steam behind in favour of petrol and released the Type 2. The company dabbled in cars until 1929 when they introduced the numbering system they still use today.
The Peugeot 201 was its first mass-produced vehicle and was a huge success in the French market. It was quickly followed by the 301, 401, 601 and other models.
The current Peugeot includes the 208, 308, 508, 3008, 4008 and 5008, to name just a few.
Renault
Renault is another famous French car brand well known across the world. The company was founded in 1899 by three brothers, Louis, Marcel and Fernand Renault. They took lessons they learned from their father’s textile business and applied them to cars.
They launched their first car a year before the brand was formally launched in 1898. It was the Renault Voiturette 1CV and was sold to a family friend.
The company soon began building their own engines and created their first mass-produced car in 1905 in the Renault AG1. It was followed by the 6CV, 10CV and other models.
The company was nationalised in 1945 but bought in 1990 to make it private again. Since then, Renault became part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance and owns controlling shares of Dacia, one of the most significant up and coming brands of the modern era as part of the modern Groupe Renault.
Current Renault models include the Zoe, Clio, Megane and Captur.
Dacia
Dacia was launched in Romania in 1966. It had a similar remit to Volkswagen, to provide affordable vehicles to everyday people in the country. The name came from the original Roman name for Romania and has become a well-known brand of cars across the world.
Renault took control of Dacia in 1999, which is why it’s in this list. The company launched its first car in 2004, the Logan. It was a family saloon designed to deliver affordable transport to everyone and was a success in many parts of Europe.
It was followed by the Sandero in 2008 and the Duster in 2010. Since then, Dacia has improved the quality, reliability, engines, manufacture and design to deliver attractive vehicles that offer the benefits we look for still at a competitive price.
Current Dacia models include the Logan, Sandero, Duster Jogger and Stepway.
Bugatti
Even though it may sound Italian, Bugatti is actually French. Italian-born Frenchman Ettore Bugatti founded the company in Alsace in 1909. The intent was to deliver performance cars fit for the Grand Prix.
Bugatti quickly delivered on that intent with a second place at the 1911 French Grand Prix and a win at the first ever Monaco Grand Prix in the Bugatti Type 35. It was followed by the Type 13 Brescia, which was the first car to use the unique grille shape the cars still carry today.
Thanks to a couple of early deaths and the Second World War, Bugatti was owned by a few companies until Volkswagen bought it in 1998. They invested heavily and helped realise the Bugatti Veyron, one of the most powerful production cars ever made.
Current Bugatti models include the Veyron and the Chiron.
Enjoy the best of French design. Test drive any new or used Citroën, Peugeot, Renault or Dacia at Budgen Motors in Telford or Shrewsbury.
