Renault Clio Gordini RS200 Edition 2010 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $39,140
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Nil
Crash-rating: Five-star
Fuel: 95 RON PULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 8.2
CO2 emissions (g/km): 195
Also consider: MINI Cooper S JCW, Volkswagen Polo GTI

About our ratings

We've been here before. Arguably one of the best handling hot hatches on the market, it was with great pleasure that I accepted the bulbous key fob to the new special edition Clio RS200, the Gordini.

Only 30 of these will make their way to Australia, making them a potential collector's item. The fact that they are amazing to drive only adds to the appeal.

Renault has a grand plan to revitalise its sports offerings moving into the future, and like HSV is to Holden and AMG is to Mercedes-Benz, Gordini is to be the badge of distinction for non-compromise sports models in the Renault/Renault Sport range.

The Renault Clio Gordini RS200 Edition is the first model to bear the hallowed badge to arrive in Australia since Renault announced the Gordini brand revival in 2009. Powered by a rev-happy 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine outputting 147kW/215Nm, the Renault Clio RS200 Gordini is mechanically identical to the Clio RS200 Cup Trophee.

Four-piston Brembo brakes at the front, painted red, provide massive stopping power for the lightweight 1281kg hot hatch, endowing it with the kind of deceleration not usually experienced in a $40K performance car

And it gets better. The sports-tuned suspension gives the Gordini Clio the kind of handling that not only makes you smile, but also supplies the car with mid-corner pace that makes other hot hatches feel diluted. Easily one of the best-handling cars of the modern era, the Gordini will leave you breathless with its cornering capabilities.

Antilock brakes and sports-tuned stability control help keep you on the straight and narrow, but if you driver smoothly you'll rarely encounter them, such is the level of control on offer.

While I still think the engine lacks a bit of bite, the linear power delivery means you'll never be caught off guard by a torque spike, and when the revs finally get above 5000rpm the Gordini really begins to shine. Check out this review for more insight into the Clio's ultra-slick chassis setup and handling prowess.

So it gets the same engine, the same brakes, and the same six-speed manual gearbox of its donor car. Is there anything new with the Gordini?

Considered to be the spiritual heir of the 1960s R8 Gordini (longtime Australian motorsport fans might be familiar with the R8 Gordini which won the 1970 Australian Rally Championship at the hands of Bob Watson and Jim McAuliffe), the Renault Clio Gordini RS200 Edition gets a bold new image, one that doesn't go unnoticed. Attracting plenty of attention from bystanders, the French-made hot hatch is finished in 'Gordini Blue' and features the white stripes seen on classic Gordinis past. And if you look closely, you'll see the white stripes have been watermarked with a 'G' motif.

The front splitter and wing mirrors are also finished in white, adding plenty of contrast to the picture, and are juxtaposed with black sections on the front bumper and rear diffuser. Side air extraction vents are finished in satin chrome and my personal favourite change are the 17-inch 'BeBop' alloy wheels, which have blue accents on the inside of the spokes. The attention to detail on this car is impressive.

The other major differences between the Clio RS200 and the Gordini special edition are obvious the moment you sink into the well-bolstered sports seats. Glance down at the new metallic Gordini gear knob and its blue gaiter and you'll also notice a numbered Gordini build plate.

The leather seats feature blue accents with Gordini embossing, and the steering wheel is also trimmed in blue leather, with white stripes indication dead ahead to match the paint job.

The interior door trims are new, finished in dark charcoal with grey stitching, but it's the white tachometer and glossy black centre console and dashpad inserts that really make the car feel special. Add to that Gordini badged plush-pile floor mats and you've got yourself a bona fide collector car.

These extra cosmetics probably sound like a waste of time and money, but they go a long way towards making the experience just a little bit more special. Interior quality has been improved and it's the little things that are memorable, such as when you slot the heavy metal gearshifter into first, or when you grip the supple cow-hide steering wheel. These touches add to the encounter and make you feel as though you're driving something special.

The Gordini name pays homage to Amédée Gordini, an Italian motor racing engineer nicknamed Le Sorcier, aka the sorcerer. He found this name because he had a knack for creating and engineering very fast motor vehicles, and after creating his own vehicles he went on to work with Renault as an engine tuner. Eventually he sold his company to Renault. With badge now reinstated, we can expect to see a lot more from the famous brand.

Asked by a fellow motorist if the new Gordini Clio recaptured the spirit of original cars, I had to say I didn't know. I never drove a classic Gordini. But at the end of the day the car is certainly one of the most enjoyable hot hatches I've ever piloted.

If Renault's mission was to ensure the Gordini badge would adorn only the best, the fastest, and the most agile vehicles in its stable, then it's a mission accomplished for the Renault Clio Gordini RS200 Edition.

Buy it for the collector cachet, drive it for the thrill.

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