After numerous teasers at official events at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Renault have officially revealed the new Renaultsport 200 Turbo, Along with our rewcent spyshots of a fully uncamouflaged version lapping the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany
There can be no doubt about it: The Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo is a Renault Sport model through and through. Its F1-style front blade recalls Renault’s success in Formula One, while its diffuser and spoiler generate 80 per cent and 20 per cent extra downforce respectively. Also exclusive to New Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo are the unique grille and spoiler, front and rear bumper, wide-set LED daytime running lights, sill extensions and 17-inch wheels, with 18- inch rims available as an option. All these elements combine to make it a genuine attention grabber. A dual-tailpipe exhaust system and a sporty sound signature round off this exclusive package.
Inside, the ambience is sporting, with red the dominant colour. A steering wheel flanked by two gearshift paddles, a dedicated instrument pack and aluminium-capped pedals all spell performance and passion. Yet, Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo also pays particular attention to the comfort of its occupants. The bucket seats, with leather upholstery optional, provide extra lateral support and it goes without saying that Renaultsport’s latest comes with all the equipment expected of a flagship model: multimedia system, touchscreen navigation, Bluetooth® radio with USB connectivity, hands-free entry and starting, driver aids. Climate control and parking sensors are also available as options.
Powering the new Clio is a completely new 1.6 turbocharged engine coupled with the EDC dual clutch transmission and paddle gear change EDC gearbox, the new 1.6 Turbo Renaultsport 200 engine is exclusive to the New Clio flagship – an indication of another step forward by Renault Sport Technologies in its quest for performance. The aim is to offer even more everyday driving enjoyment thanks to extra verve, but also to reconcile enjoyment and performance improvements along with additional improvements in fuel economy.
The new 16-valve four-cylinder develops 200 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. Its high torque of 240 Nm (up 25 Nm compared with Clio III Renaultsport) is developed from just 1,750 rpm for instantaneous driving enjoyment. This maximum torque is then consistently available at higher revs – up to 5,600 rpm – thanks to the turbocharger.
The car will come in two distinct variants:-
•Sport chassis for an optimum balance of sportiness and comfort in everyday motoring.
•Cup chassis for technical and track day enthusiasts. These customers will enjoy 15 per cent more stiffness relative to the Sport chassis and a ride height lowered by 5 mm.
New Renault Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo combines fun with technology, in the form of a ‘sport’ button named R.S. Drive. Pressing the button modifies the engine and gearbox mapping, ESC settings, steering feeling and throttle pedal response. It works in three modes (‘Normal’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’) and gives the new model an attractive, multi-dimensional sporty character.
In the same spirit, Renault’s engineers have adapted R-Sound Effect for the New Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo by adding specific engine noises. Using Renault R-Link, this application simulates the noise of one of a range of iconic engines through the car’s speakers, tuning it to the speed and acceleration of the car. It’s a fun and realistic way of choosing the engine noise.
In addition to this bundle of new features, New Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo offers an enviable range of comfort features such as touchscreen navigation Renault R-Link, a hands-free key card, Bluetooth radio with USB and jack connections. Options include parking sensors with rear camera and climate control. Being sporty doesn’t mean that the wellbeing of occupants cannot be looked after.
No official word on pricing but we expect it to be around £17000 sterling for the Cup and possibly £18000 for the Sport, All of which will be available early 2013.
