After almost almost 12 months of deliberation, Renault has this week announced the Gordini edition Clio 200 RS (Renault Sport) will go on sale in Australia, albeit in limited numbers.
Strengthening Renault's already vibrant compact sports offerings, the Renault Clio 200 Gordini RS Edition draws on an important era in the brand's sporting heritage, the famous "Gorde" a symbol of French success that thrilled several generations of motoring enthusiast keen for affordable fun at the wheel.
The Gordini name pays tribute to Amédée Gordini, a pioneer of the Renault brand who assisted in the development of almost 200,000 vehicles over a 20-year period. Along the way, Gordini achieved some of the brand's greatest sporting achievements, his R8 Gordini models finshing 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th in the 1964 Tour of Corsica Rally.
Gordini repeated the performance again in 1966 when the 1300 version of his famous car heralded the birth of the Gordini Cup, the 'Cup' name to appear on many Renault Sport models over the decades.
Now, the Renault Clio 200 Gordini RS Edition will again recapture the essence of a bygone spirit, the distinctive French blue finish to wear the coveted double white stripe synonymous with the Gordini name and a bold "G" motif. The Clio Gordini RS features a 2.0-litre CVVT four-cylinder engine developing 147.5kW and is mated exclusively to a six-speed close-ratio manual transmission.
Riding on a Cup Chassis, the Gordini Edition also scores four-pot Brembo brakes (finished in red), anti-lock brakes with switchable sports-tuned stability control, 17-inch 'BeBop' alloy wheels, satin chrome side extractors, front fog lamps, and a gloss-black finish to the front bumper and rear diffuser.
Inside, a Renault Sport display monitor, switchblade key, six airbags, auto headlamps and wipers, cruise control, single-zone climate control, and Bluetooth audio streaming join exclusive Gordini touches that include black and blue embossed leather seats, leather-trimmed steering wheel, badged metal gear knob with blue gaiter, white tacho, gloss black trim highlights and Gordini floor mats.
All examples are numbered with a commemorative plaque on the centre console.
The Renault Clio 200 Gordini RS Edition goes on sale from Monday the 20th of September for $39,140
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site