Matra Murena (1980 – 1983) Review

May 1976

Work begins on Project M551, a new sports car

The Bagheera was a good example of that old cliché, ‘racing improves the breed’, and following Jackie Stewart’s world championship at the wheel of a Matra-Tyrrell and back-to-back Le Mans victories in 1973/74, Matra’s credentials were impeccable. Clearly the Bagheera had been a commercial and critical success for Matra and Chrysler, and thanks to its combination of prettiness, generous accommodation and sweet chassis, it had the French buying it in droves. However, it wasn’t perfect, and Matra had clear goals to aim for when it commenced work on its replacement in 1976…

The main barrier to success in export markets, was the Bagheera’s build quality, or to be more precise, the lack of it. In Germany, especially, it was held back by this, and those that were sold in Northern European markets, soon suffered from rusting spaceframes. Also buyers demanded more power, and even though the Bagheera S could deliver a fair turn of speed, it could not be described as a fast car. So what Matra needed, was a ‘new’ Bagheera, built to higher standards, with improved resistance to rust, and larger engines.

Essentially, that was how the Murena came to be: project M551 was defined as an evolution of the Bagheera, and was soon built around the existing structure. The engine decision came later, but the it was decided to equip the M551 with a 1.6-litre version of the Bagheera S engine (as later used in the Alpine and Solara), but also the 2.2-litre development of the Chrysler 2-Litre unit (later to be found in the Tagora). The engine situation was still fluid at the time that Chrysler Europe became part of PSA; and so, Matra set-about investigating options within the PSA range.

For the larger version, the 2-Litre joint-venture (Peugeot-Renault) Douvrin engine (so-called because it had been designed by Française de Mécanique, and built at a factory in Douvrin) looked good. Being all-aluminium, it was somewhat lighter than the existing “Chrysler” lump, which would have beneficial effects on the car’s handling. However, Renault vetoed the plan, as the company feared that the Murena amounted to too-effective competition for its upcoming Fuego model, which would also be receiving a Douvrin.

January 1979

Renault said 'non' to Douvrin engines, M551 to use Simca power units

Publicity photo of the Murena at home on the Autoroute. Directional stability and lack of wind noise at high speed were plus points, but it was also pretty effective on twisty roads. Even though it was offered with a 2.2-litre engine, the chassis still cried out for more power.

Undeterred by Renault’s snub, Matra finalized the engine range; in both cases ex-SIMCA units were used. The styling, however, was unlike anything that had come before: it is difficult to describe the Murena as an evolution of the Bagheera, as that car was firmly planted in the 1970s (classic wedge, defined by clear edges), whereas the Murena was much more organic. That streamlined style was an obvious result of the many hours spent honing the design in the wind tunnel. And the results were impressive: the final Cd (co-efficient of drag) rated at 0.328, which in 1980, was nothing short of sensational. To put that figure into perspective, one must compare it with another of 1980′s “streamliners”: when launched, the Renault Fuego’s aerodynamics were loudly trumpeted in its advertising, and yet it scored 0.347…

Body engineering was similar to the Bagheera: a plastic outer-skin, comprising of a mere twelve panels was fitted to a heavy and rigid steel spaceframe. Importantly, the Murena’s spaceframe was completely galvanized, thus ensuring that history did not repeat itself – and Matra backed that up with a six-year anti-corrosion warranty. The rear suspension comprised of MacPherson struts, but at the front, the Alpine/Solara’s torsion bar set-up was used. Power was definitely up, compared with the Bagheera: the 1592cc version boasted 92bhp, whilst the 2156cc version (ironically, an identical capacity to the 2.2-litre Douvrin) put out 118bhp, but much more torque. To answer another oft-repeated Bagheera criticism, both Murenas came with five-speed gearboxes as standard.

September 1980

Murena launched

The Murena was launched in September 1980, and found itself sharing the spotlight with the new Tagora. However, journalists would have to wait some months before they would be able to get their hands on it, as Talbot's ambition to show it at the Paris Salon outweighed the desire to present a finished product - it was probably not coincidence, that Renault unveiled the Fuego at the same show, and Talbot management felt that the Murena possessed more than enough style to overshadow it.

The Murena did make a favourable first impression, and most journalists couldn't wait to get their hands on it. Sadly, that would not happen until the following Spring, thanks to the need for Matra to cure a last-minute bug, in the shape of an oil starvation feed problem in the 2.2-litre model.However, the conclusions drawn by journalists after their first drives were mixed. As was to be expected, the styling and accommodation of the Murena were praised, and the its handling was particularly lauded, but there was unease about price and performance.

Despite offering 118bhp in 2.2-litre form, most felt that the Murena simply was not fast enough. In his report in CAR magazine, LJK Setright made some not-too favourable comparisons between the 2.2-litre Murena and the Volkswagen Scirocco GTi. Straight line speed was the issue, and given the profusion of newly-launched hot hatchbacks, coupés such as the Murena were being left behind. In terms of pricing, the Murena was no bargain either: comparable coupés such as the Alfasud Sprint and Scirocco were considerably cheaper, similarly priced cars, such as the Porsche 924 and Alpine-Renault A310 were faster. The Murena might have been able to run rings around any of these cars on a twisty B-road but in the minds of most, this was not enough.Interior was as idiosyncratic as the Bagheera's: a kitsch 1980s makeover of a 1970s classic!

June 1983

Go-faster Murena 4S launched

Stung by such criticism, Matra developed an uprated Murena 4S model (“4S”=quatre soupapes, four valves). Based upon the standard 2.2-litre model, the Murena 4S sported a clever 16 Valve head, which upped the maximum power to a much more respectable 180bhp. The gearbox remained unmodified, and apparently had no trouble handling the extra power, and in testing, the 4S model proved impressively reliable. To differentiate the 4S from the standard model, Matra developed a suitably extrovert bodykit (which included an aluminium targa-top, wider wheel arches and spoilers, front and rear). Performance was boosted accordingly, and in testing, the Murena 4S could reach reach more than 140mph. When presented with the 4S in November 1981, Peugeot management would not approve it for production; no doubt struggling with the bigger issue of the logistical nightmare of trying to manage three marques, all with overlapping models.

Matra did not give up on the idea of a faster Murena, but Peugeot would not play ball: a promising V12 designed by André Legan was passed over after not progressing far beyond the drawing board. A version powered by the 2.9-litre PRV V6 engine (Tagora, Volvo 760, Peugeot 604) was similarly vetoed. A final attempt at getting Peugeot to approve the 4S for production in fuel injected form also proved fruitless.

In the end, Peugeot relented slightly, by allowing Matra to market an aftermarket tuning kit, which boosted power to 142bhp. The hike in power was achieved though a more aggressive camshaft and a four-into-one inlet manifold feeding two twin-choke Solex carburettors. As this was an aftermarket conversion to be fitted by a Talbot dealer, the cost implications of the upgrade further added to the financial burden of purchasing a Murena (the S kit took twenty-five hours to fit). Thankfully, performance was now in keeping with the Murena’s sleek looks, and in a straight line, it could keep a Porsche 944 honest.

Sadly, Matra had only one production line capable of producing the Murena (thanks to the galvanization process), and this kept production at a lower level than desirable. Therefore, Matra decided to wind down production of the Murena. In the end, the 142S kit became a factory option (to use up the remaining chassis and body shells), and the Murena-S became a full-time member of the family in June 1983.

July 1983

Production ended

Sadly, a month later, and after a production run of a mere 10,680, the Murena was officially dead. Peugeot pulled the plug on its accord with Matra. Traditional profit-maker Peugeot found itself enduring some of the worst financial performances of its existence, following the purchase of Chrysler Europe, and found itself in a rationalizing phase. Matra’s commercial performance had faded a little since its best days during the mid-1970s, and Peugeot decided that it no longer needed Matra. The partnership was dissolved, thus ending the Murena and the Rancho. Matra would be left to fend for itself, but not for long: Renault swooped in and entered into a similar commercial partnership…