VIDEO: Renault pokes fun with new R.S 01 police interceptor

Renault has taken a break from its emission troubles at home by creating an entertaining high-octane short film in which the French Gendarme uses R.S 01 cop cars to intercept speeders.

Weighing in at just over a tonne and powered by a 373kW/600Nm version of the 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 that powers the current R35 Nissan GT-R, the R.S 01 was originally created to comply with the Le Mans prototype regulations and was never intended for road use or law enforcement, until now.

With a race-spec Sadev seven-speed sequential gearbox and a competition-ready limited-slip differential, plus large carbon ceramic brakes built for endurance racing, the Renault race car could prove a real handful in real-world conditions.

Luckily, for its fictional role, rally legend Jean Ragnotti is doing the driving duties and seems perfectly at home power sliding the lightweight sports car as it chases down a speeding superbike.

Sadly, the likelihood of a road-going version of the R.S 01 brightening up our roads, even in traffic cops’ hands, is almost non-existent.

Instead, Gallic sports car fans will have to wait until February 16, when Renault finally reveals its reborn Alpine Berlinette -- a 200+kW rear-drive coupe that should weigh in at around 1100kg, the same as the R.S 01.

Priced at around an estimated $75,000, the Alpine has been created as car for performance car “purists” so should be a natural rival for the Porsche Cayman or Alfa Romeo 4C.