RE: New Clio Renaultsport: the 5 door racer

RE: New Clio Renaultsport: the 5 door racer

Tuesday 16th October 2012

New Clio Renaultsport: the racer

The road car has been ruffling a few feathers - can news of its racing brother smooth them a little?



Safe to say the new turbocharged, five-door, dual-clutch only Renaultsport Clio 200 hasn't gone down a storm with PHers, on paper at least. There's hope yet that the driving experience might offer a bit more to cheer about but we'll have to wait until next year to find out for sure.

In the meantime Renaultsport has revealed details of the new 2014 Clio Cup racer, based on the controversial new road car. And, yes, it's basically the same deal so a 1.6-litre turbo engine - spiced up to 220hp and 199lb ft - driving through a sequential six-speed with paddle shifters as an option. Again just like the road car. And we'll leave that comparison parked there.

It's got paddleshifters too...
It's got paddleshifters too...
Cost? Just shy of 40,000 euros, plus VAT.

And, yes, it looks a lot more businesslike than the road car unveiled at Paris and, perhaps, a little inspiration to those who want to improve the looks of their road cars. A set of 17-inch Speedline Turinis (hat tip to the 172 Cup and 182 Trophy there) would be the first step on the road to doing that, the Cup car also getting AP Racing brakes, a beefy fixed rear wing and roof scoop.

The door-banging Cup series will run the existing car for one remaining season, Clios now a staple of the UK racing scene for over two decades and launching many a BTCC career in the process. With over 700 of the outgoing 2.0-litre Cup cars sold, racing Clios are an important part of the Renaultsport bottom line and Renault will clearly be hoping for plenty of repeat business for teams upgrading to the new car for the 2014 season. Those wanting a taste of the new car can see it in action in the Clio Eurocup next year while the rest of us can ponder on the possibilities of what could be done with all those outgoing Cup cars once the season is done. Killer track car shed action? Nice idea but they'll have led a hard life and parts ain't cheap. Just try driving like your typical Cup driver on a track day and see how many friends you make too. Still, it's a nice thought.

 

 

Author
Discussion

80quattro

Original Poster:

1,724 posts

194 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
Still not sold on the looks.

MagicalTrevor

6,476 posts

228 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
Maybe some bargain ex-Clio Cup race cars from the current series? Probably still very expensive though

Dazed & Confused

202 posts

203 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
When a car doesn't look good even in full race trim, that's worrying.

em177

3,127 posts

163 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
Even the most terrible of road car designs normally look at least half decent in race trim. That Clio still looks ruddy awful!


danielj58

123 posts

173 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
[quote=Dazed & Confused]When a car doesn't look good even in full race trim, that's worrying.
[/quote]

It looks very podgy doesn't it :\

Maldini35

2,913 posts

187 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
I agree with the previous posts - even the racer looks dumpy.

I seriously considered an old cup car as a trackday / occasional race car but the parts and maintenance costs put me off.
They are great mini touring cars (properly engineered racers) but not well suited to the hopeless amateur mechanic (me) on a tight budget.
Those Sadev sequential boxes whilst great fun, aren't buttons to refresh.

But they were built as serious race cars so it's a bit much to expect them to be a cheap and cheerful occasional car.

On a separate note, I found this great video of some Clio Cup action.

If you stop the video clip at 24-25 seconds you can see the race footage was taped over a christening - priceless.

"Darling, have you seen the tape of Timmy's christening? I promised I'd show my parents this weekend".....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...

Edited by Maldini35 on Tuesday 16th October 16:10


Edited by Maldini35 on Tuesday 16th October 16:12

Rib

2,548 posts

188 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
looks wise I think that looks better than the outgoing racer!

MrKipling43

5,788 posts

215 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
Maldini35 said:
Those Sadev sequential boxes whilst great fun, aren't buttons to refresh.
Whip it out and get an h-pattern then. Flog on eBay, recoup investment. Winbags.

GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

156 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
Rib said:
looks wise I think that looks better than the outgoing racer!
I don't think either look better than one another, they more functional than beautiful imo. I own the road car and can't say I bought it for the looks particularly though.

For easy comparison:




I think the spoiler on the new one is a better design, the old one looked a bit too chaarv for me and does bugger all anyway.

michaelw3628

198 posts

205 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
I'm not sure on the road car but I do think this looks better but still not as menacing as the ongoing model. However it looks out the box, in Clio Cup racing it's not going to remain that way for long is it?!
On a side note. Where is the thread for the Renault/ Williams competition thread? I can't find it anywhere. Dare I say I didn't win as I've not heard but still interested to find it.

Robmarriott

2,633 posts

157 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
The old mk2 shape cup cars still fetch 10k.

I'd love one for a track car, should imagine its too hard to make one road legal either

Hitch78

6,100 posts

193 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
I still think it looks better than the outgoing model. I'm using a Golf GTI with DSG at the moment so I'm also a convert to paddles!

I bet this is a cracker and people will grow to love it.

Greg 172

233 posts

200 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
Well, it's an improvement on teh road car. Shame the front end is so massive it makes the alloy look tiny (although I don;t think the angle helps it?).

loose cannon

6,028 posts

240 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
Err no it's ugly and you wont convert me to flappys in a hot hatch,
Last Clio sport I would buy I'm afraid
Is still the 200, having owned quite a few
Renaultsports , this new Clio is simply not for me,

dapearson

4,252 posts

223 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
Wonder what a full season in that would cost?

woof

8,456 posts

276 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
dapearson said:
Wonder what a full season in that would cost?
Somewhere in the region of £150k with team support.


dapearson

4,252 posts

223 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
woof said:
Somewhere in the region of £150k with team support.
£*$%^*$!! Wow.

Makes my season in the Caterham look cheap at 3.3% of that cost!

TACottle

184 posts

152 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
Still minging.

woof

8,456 posts

276 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
dapearson said:
woof said:
Somewhere in the region of £150k with team support.
£*$%^*$!! Wow.

Makes my season in the Caterham look cheap at 3.3% of that cost!
Off the top of my head
£44k for the car
£5k a weekend for the team support - 12 rounds ? test / quali / 2 races
Tyres £600 set (per weekend or more if you want new tyres for each race)
Insurance £2-3k (per weekend optional)
Minor Crash Damage Budget £5000
Additional testing £10k

Of course you could run it yourself and save £50k




woof

8,456 posts

276 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
MagicalTrevor said:
Maybe some bargain ex-Clio Cup race cars from the current series? Probably still very expensive though
You can pick up a really nice cup car plus a load a spares for around £15k - 18k. Not expensive in race car terms