Renault is making a more sprightly version of the Clio Renaultsport 200. The Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo won’t be much faster than the standard car, but it should be more agile, significantly more efficient and more technologicallya dvanced.
Whereas its predecessor rocks a naturally aspirated 2 litre engine, the Renaultsport 200 Turbo uses a smaller 1.6 litre turbocharged unit. Both produce the same 200hp, but this smaller unit has the benefit of helping reduce overall weight by 36Kg. Torque is much improved too, up from 215Nm in the 200 to a respectable 240Nm in the 200 Turbo.
The result is a 0-62mph acceleration time of 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 143mph – figures that are nearly identical to the non-turbo car, as well as those achieved by its chief rivals, the Ford Fiesta ST and Peugeot 208 GTi.
The primary advantage to this switch in engine philosophy is increased efficiency. The Cliosport 200 Turbo returns 44.8mpg rather than 34.5mpg in the standard car. CO2 emissions also drop, from 190g/km to 144g/km, so it now sits in the £135 per year band F category, rather than the £250 band J bracket.
There’s no manual transmission option in the Cliosport 200 Turbo, but the car does feature an all-new Efficient Dual Clutch transmission. This makes the shifts between the six gears faster and with less interruption to the torque.
The Ordinary Clio was one of the most entertaining small hot hatches on the market and this new model promises to be just as enjoyable to drive. The Cliosport 200 Turbo is the frst production car to boast rally-style hydraulic compression stops in its shock absorbers, has new steering calibraiton, and a rear axle with 10 per cent better anti-roll bar stiffness.
The Clisport 200 lets the user to select from three driving modes via its RS Drive system: Normal, Sport and Race. Each alters the settings for the engine, accelerator, steering and ESC mapping. Race mode is the most aggressive of the three, accelerating the shift times to under 150ms. The car also features a launch control mode and its ESC and ASR traction control systems can be disengaged completely if you fancy going it alone.
Gadets in the Cliosport 200 Turbo include the RS Soundpipe, which funnels engine noise directly into the cabin, as well as Bluetooth, USB connectivity, keyless start and the optional RS Monitor on-board telemetry system that lets you record lap times and g-force data.
Renault will begin taking orders for the Cliosport 200 Turbo in April with deliveries to commence in June. Prices will be confirmed on February 28th.
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