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Details of the all-new Renault Clio RS200 Turbo have been confirmed by the French company, ahead of its international launch next month.
The new Clio RS will be powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 147kW of power and 240Nm of torque between 1,750-5500rpm. That’s 25Nm more torque than the outgoing model’s 2.0-litre naturally aspirated mill, but carries over the same power. It does arrive 1,100rpm sooner at 6,000rpm.
The new engine is enough to propel the little hot-hatch from 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds, 0.2 seconds quicker than its predecessor. Fuel consumption has been cut by almost a quarter, down to 6.3-litres per 100km.
Besides a downsized engine, the new Clio RS200 Turbo is also lighter, weighing in at 1,204kg. That’s 77kg lighter than the outgoing RS200.
As previously reported, the new Clio RS 200 Turbo will only be available in 5-door guise, and for the first time, with a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. There is also a multi-change downshift function on the gearbox that makes it possible to drop several gears at once under braking by keeping the relevant steering wheel-mounted paddle depressed – which Renault claims is a first for a ‘sub-supercar’.
Like its bigger brother, the Megane RS265, there are three driver selectable drive modes – Normal, Sport and Race, which modifies the engine and transmission mapping, power steering feel, and intervention of the stability and traction control systems.
The Race setting is the most hardcore of the three and completes gearshifts in 150 milliseconds. It also engages launch control and completely disengages the car’s stability and traction control.
The Renault Clio RS200 Turbo sits 3mm lower and is 15 per cent stiffer than run of the mill Clios. It also benefits from a quicker steering rack.
One novel feature that may anger purist is the RS Sound Pipe. It channels amplified engine sound into the cabin. For those who prefer the sound of more exotic engines like the Nissan GT-R or Alpine A110, the R-Sound Effect application built into the Clio’s R-Link infotainment system allows the driver to select from seven iconic engine sounds, including those mentioned earlier.
The R-link touchscreen display also features satellite navigation, an RS Monitor that displays performance data, G Force diagram, power and torque curves and a stopwatch and data logger for track use.
The Renault Clio RS200 Turbo will arrive in Australia in early 2014, while the standard Clio range will be introduced in the third quarter of 2013.
