Renault RenaultSport Clio Cup 200 & RenaultSport Clio Cup 200 Trophée 2010 Review

Renault Renault Sport Clio Cup 200 and Renault Sport Clio Cup 200 Trophée

Not so much
>> Yellow tacho is a bit garish
>> Some will find Recaros hard to live with

Overall rating: 4.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 4.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.5/5.0
Safety: 4.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 4.5/5.0
X-factor: 4.5/5.0

Whether simply the stars had aligned for the spirited French brand or the marketing department had jagged a great tie-in for its small car lineup with the multi-billion dollar F1 roadshow is anyone's guess. Exactly how much motor racing development actually makes its way to road-going cars is equally anyone's guess, but at the very least Renault's success on the track makes for one of its most distinctive and oft-mentioned qualities.

Watching recent attempts in the same arena by segment competitors like Honda and Toyota confirms Renault's unique selling point in its RS models. A few good race seasons doesn't hurt, either.

So Renault Australia timed the launch of the new RS Clio 200 Cup model with this year's Australian Grand Prix; hosted it at a nearby racetrack and invited latest F1 team stars Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov to demonstrate the Clio's strengths to motoring media, current owners and "prospects".

In his enthusiasm Kubica broke one of the demo Clios (burnt clutch) but the Polish driver redeemed himself by finishing Sunday on the F1 podium, albeit in second place.

Back to earth, we love Renault's cute Clio. Who wouldn't? Especially at this Renault Sport level with all the hi-po division's F1-inspired raciness. And racy it is; even racier than the outgoing 197 model which served us well in last year's Australian Tarmac Challenge...

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
-- Evil twin
Pricing for the new Clio RS 200 Cup starts at $36,490. In addition, there's now an even more serious model in the stable too -- $38,990 buys you the top-spec RS 200 Cup Trophée (black model pictured).

The latest Clios come standard with Bluetooth connectivity -- a notable deficiency in the otherwise complete 197 model -- but the real story is the revised engine output for the 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit, which has resulted in better figures and best yet, more low-down torque. See more below in MECHANICAL.

The standard-fit list of the Cup includes leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearknob, cruise control, speed limiter, climate control, auto headlights and windscreen wipers, trip computer and CD/MP3 stereo. The Trophée spec adds Recaro seats and Renault's Keycard (keyless) access.

Optional equipment includes sat-nav, rear parking assistance, white or black-coloured 'Speedline' alloys and Renault Sport steering wheel insert. Cooler yet are the carbonfibre-look side skirts and rear spoiler with Renault Sport decals...

Renault Australia still has no intention bringing the cooking-model Clios to local showrooms. Managing Director Rudi Koenig told the Carsales Network the premium for importing a Euro-sourced product priced his brand out of competitiveness with the Light Car segment-dominant Japanese models.

Instead, Renault intends offering us a roll out of limited edition Clio variants, including the Gordini-spec version, special colour combination options and to celebrate the nameplate's 20th year, an anniversary model.

The RS models work as an exercise in image not volume for the French brand in Australia, according to Koenig.

Torque remains at 215Nm, but most of it arrives earlier, with 95 per cent by 3000 revs. The lack of response from low revs was one of the few disappointments with the 197 but Renault has solved the problem. Not that the previous model was unliveable...

Fuel consumption and emissions ratings are also better, at 8.2L/100km compared to 8.4L and 195g/km versus 199g/km.

Improvements have come by way of revisions to the engine's variable valve timing system, such as allowing for more valve overlap. The latest unit has also been given a new cylinder head and updated engine control unit.

On the chassis front, the steering has been tweaked with a faster ratio rack (by 7.5 per cent), according to Renault.

Renault Sport has used a double-axis front suspension set-up rather than the MacPherson strut system for benefits in weight and to steering. It's 7.5kg lighter and separates the steering axis from the damping system, which reduces torque steer in corners.

The RS Clio's torsion beam rear suspension set-up has been made stiffer (by 25 per cent) with the addition of a thicker (from 10 to 30mm) anti-roll bar.

RS Clios come with Continental Sport Contact tyres to suit the 17 x 7.5 wheels. Brembo four-pot calipers grip the 312mm front discs and single-piston TRW calipers are matched to 300mm rear discs.

The RS Clio continues with a six-speed manual transmission only. The transmission is able to cope with up to 240Nm and Renault Sport has reworked ratios (for first, second and third gears) to provide better low-down acceleration. Redline is 7100rpm (slightly lower than the outgoing model); 0-100km/h time is the same as the 197's at 6.9sec.

Two Renault Sport Clio models will be offered; both with the Cup chassis tune of the previous 197 model's F1 Team R27 version as standard.

The RS Clios come with a three-year warranty. We were told by company insiders that since the application of Nissan's production benchmarks under the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the Renault products are achieving higher quality indicators such as reduced recalls and increased customer satisfaction ratings.

While it's a Light Car segment hatch, the Clio is still quite spacious. The hot models come with sports seats which compromise ingress and egress, especially the Recaro versions standard with the Trophée model. The upside is super-supportive seating to accommodate the super-sharp cornering an owner will enjoy... More on that later.

A redesigned front bumper allows more air intake area while at the rear the Clio's standout diffuser has been restyled and the tailpipes are larger -- and now flush with the edge of the diffuser.

The F1-inspired rear diffuser makes the most of the Clio's flat underbody floor, and is attributed to its stable handling at high speeds: Renault Sport claims the equivalent of 35kg downforce is created at highway speeds, and up to double that on a race circuit.

The interior has also been updated and now features restyled seat trim and yellow-faced tacho... and to suit, matching yellow stitching for the 'straight ahead' marking on the steering wheel. The 200 Cup's dashboard is finished in anthracite (grey-black) -toned material and the Trophée wears a carbonfibre-look. As noted above, the Trophée also comes standard with Recaro race seats.

The models are further differentiated by wheel design: the Cup comes with 17-inch alloys in a new five-spoke style and the Cup Trophée uses the same multi-spoke BeBop design of the 197 model.

At 1204kg Renault claims the Clio 200 Cup has the best power-to-weight ratio in class: 73.5kW per tonne.

The Clio models also come with latest-generation anti-lock braking and brakeforce distribution system. The RS Clio's stability program allows for "higher limits" of driving and can be fully disconnected... More conservatively, it combines traction control.

We're granting a higher than usual safety score for the RS Clio models, partly because even the humble Clios are well equipped but mostly because all that equipment makes it to the sharper versions, and from an active safety viewpoint 'sharper' is safer in our book.

Renault has the Clio's (and the bigger and also front-driver Megane's) steering down pat. That includes the outgoing versions of both, so even second-hand buyers should look Renault's way if they're after a useful-yet-interesting daily runabout.

VW's Polo GTI is great value brand-new at under $30K but in comparison it's a warm (rhymes with 'yawn'), rather than hot hatch. The Polo's turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder uses 7.9L/100km, however, the MINI is the most frugal of the three, with its 1.6-litre four using 6.9L/100km.

It's also the fastest from 0-100km/h, though only slightly over the RS Clio: 6.5sec versus 6.9. The Polo takes 8.2sec.

Honda's Civic Type R is also competitive on price ($40K), power (148kW/193Nm) and pace (6.6sec for the 0-100km/h sprint) but is physically larger -- which may not suit some buyers.

Judging by the cars parked at Sandown during the launch, the prospects invited by Renault Australia included owners of BMW 1 Series, Subaru WRX STi and Alfa Romeo 147 models... So count them in, too.

Time behind the wheel during the launch was confined to the Sandown racetrack but just a few laps revealed the Clio is still very willing to carry a lot of speed into corners, largely due to great balance. Its composure is broken by understeer if handled recklessly in an attempt to find its limits, but merely lifting off a smidge and dabbing the brakes will settle proceedings.

Renault says it has tweaked the Clio's steering and response is certainly sharp. The new model made a meal of the launch 'tests' including last-moment swerves past witches' hats and what served as chicanes on Sandown's two straights but for a 'real world' test of abilities, wait for our upcoming seven-day review.

Engine output is only slightly better than the outgoing version's but it's demonstrably more tractable in the 200 tune. The four-cylinder is now strong early and its power is delivered more evenly. Compared to the outgoing version, which wanted around 3000 revs to extract its full worth, the 200 will be more comfortable as a quick daily runabout.

The six-speed manual box has a slick, fuss-free action that we praised while experiencing the 197 on the road and racetrack. Making the first three gears shorter for the 200 suits the model's more usable output delivery and you find yourself rowing up to, and around, the engine's sweet spot with pleasure.

The RS Clios are very driver intensive; something that probably won't suit the likes of middle-aged hatch buyers looking at top-spec offerings -- as is the case with many VW Golf GTI buyers in our experience...

Braking is strong and smooth, and can be trusted for response and settling the Clio into fast approaches to corners. It's a performance-oriented system but not over-sensitive or 'grabby'... In a daily runabout role, it's a good compromise for its subtlety and extra stopping power.

Interior styling and instrumentation is clear and efficient; a feature of other Renault models. It's also relief from some over-designed offerings we could mention -- Civic Type R, for example. Surprisingly, customer feedback tells the company it has been too conservative with its interiors -- which may explain the yellow-coloured tacho face for the 200 version.

Function controls are easily identified and well located, and outward vision is helped by the wide rear windscreen, low beltline for the side windows and trim rear pillars. As in its other models, Renault has styled a roomy, bright cabin despite the Clio's mini car makings.

Renault Australia expects most buyers will opt for the full-spec Trophée model with the Recaro seats up front. Owners will need to be weekend racers and/or limber enough to tolerate hopping into the seriously low and hard pews every day, otherwise the 'standard' 200 Cup version with its more conventional front seats might be the pick.

The Trophée version has more equipment but with both models offering the Cup chassis, and bestowed with Renault Sport's latest smarts, you won't lose.

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