since fuel prices were rising and the major U.S. carmakers had yet to bring out large numbers of small, fuel-efficient cars. Renault's objective was to build its newer models at AMC's existing manufacturing plants, thus avoiding the problems Volkswagen encountered with its "Rabbit" version of the Mk1 Golf assembled in its new factory in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. The two automakers worked closely as each design studio developed spin-offs of cars created by the other. Richard Teague, AMC's Vice President of Design, and his French counterpart, Robert Opron, director of Renault Styling, each traveled between France and the U.S. at least three times a year. Originally only a four-door sedan body style, Teague and AMC's design staff decided to mock-up a two-door coupe just before Opron was to review the work of the American team. Renault executives came in to run things alongside AMC officials, and the venerable factory in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was retooled to produce an Americanized version of the Renault 9 subcompact under the "Alliance" nameplate. Consumer clinics were conducted between 1979 and 1982 using a fiberglass mockup (and later with actual cars) to evaluate various issues that concerned AMC officials. Market research indicated that consumers preferred the Renault name over AMC, though not strongly. The model was named the Renault Alliance, with the AMC logo only on a small sticker affixed on the inside of the rear window, as well as printed at the bottom or back of the advertising materials. Production began in 1982, making Renault the second European automaker to build cars in the U.S. The cars were aimed at the lowest price range in the U.S. market, the two-door Alliance had a sticker price starting at $5,595. The European Car of the Year for 1982 was described as "the bargain of the year in the U.S." for 1983. Model years The Alliance was launched into the U.S. subcompact market segment against the Chevrolet Chevette/Pontiac 1000, Ford Escort/Mercury Lynx, Toyota Corolla E70, Volkswagen "Rabbit", Chrysler twins Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon, Mazda GLC, Subaru DL, Nissan Sentra, and Honda Civic. 1983 The Alliance was a 2- or 4-door sedan, launched in June 1982 as a 1983 model after a US$150 million overhaul of AMC's Kenosha, Wisconsin, assembly plant. Although marketed as a Renault, the car carried AMC's logo on a rear window decal and was officially classified as a domestic automobile as it was manufactured with more