Just a few months after launching his first car, the Voiturette Type A, Louis Renault was already thinking how it could be improved. For his first car, Renault placed the emphasis on robust design. For the Voiturette Type B, the key note was comfort. In 1899, he endowed his first car model with a roof, thus developing the vehicle today considered as the world’s first saloon.
Renault joined forces with a brilliant body designer, Labourdette, who drew the elegant cabin. Even though the chassis was the same as on the Voiturette Type A, the car looked completely different. Sheltered from the elements, the driver and passenger could drive their vehicle all year round, without worrying about the cold or the rain. It took just a few months to create the Type B from the Type A. Yet a decisive step had been made. Passenger comfort became a factor that all manufacturers had to take into consideration.
Although, the Voiturette Type B differed little from its big sister from a technical standpoint, it was nevertheless more powerful. The suspension was improved and the engine displacement was increased from 273cc to 450cc. Horsepower increased from 1,7 hp to 2,7 hp. The Type B boasted a top speed of 35 km/h.
