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CM³
At the end of 1985, the Renault 25 V6 Turbo introduced the first turbocharged PRV V6 — and with it the second generation of the engine: offset crankpins, smooth running at last, electronic injection.
Under the bonnet, the 2,458 cc Z7U: 182 bhp with Bendix injection (Z7U 702), then 205 bhp with Fenix 3B injection on the catalysed version (Z7U 700) — the rare case of an engine that GAINED power with its catalyst, thanks to a complete re-tune.
All the 2.5 turbo variants are on the Z7U engine file — and the period advertising plates are on the History page.
Stretched 22.7 cm by Heuliez and armoured, the R25 Limousine — 2.7-litre (144 bhp) or 2.5 turbo (182 bhp) — carried François Mitterrand through both his terms. 832 were built between 1986 and 1988, on the phase 1 only; the motorcade was nicknamed “le gang des R25”. Full story in Pop culture.
Around 1989, the young French outfit HAS reworked the V6 Turbo like AMG did Mercedes: turbo, intercooler, electronics and suspension revised, for around 240 bhp. Roughly ten built — a near-unfindable myth, detailed in Tuners.
A phase 1 R25 V6 injection (the 144 bhp 2.7, code Z7V) stars in Jan Kounen's cult 1997 film Dobermann — proof the Douvrin saloon crossed every register.
From this pioneer to the A610 and the Safrane Biturbo — the PRV's forced-induction story.