RE: Paris 2012: all new Clio Renaultsport

[Ali_T]

Pugsey said:

Simulated engine noise eh? Will it do this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpOaFZyN0K8

Or this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFqslG0Axbk

And I wonder how many times a Clio owner will hear "mate, your bonnet is slightly open".

[Hoygo]

masermartin said:

Which is fine if this is a "who's got the nicest looking car in the street" contest, rather than a "what is the best hot hatch these days" contest which is actually what we are talking about. I don't get the whole "well, paddle shifts are fine in McLarens and Ferraris" thing - no, they are not OK in top of the line cars, they are forced on the buying public 70% of whom think it's cool because it's like a PlayStation and the other 30% who suffer it as the only option. I have yet to see a report from a motoring journalist saying "thank god they got rid of the manual gearbox option, DSG is far more involving and fun."

RenaultSport appear to have taken every single unique selling point that made their hot hatches so good over the last decade, ripped it up and followed the crowd. The turbocharged engine was kind of inevitable, but frankly the rest of it is bks.

Yes but times have moved on,still strange a manual is not available but the other is what VAG has been doing for many years,and has been successful in sales in UK and Europe (DSG box models).Tell me what do other competitors offer ? pretty much the same unfortunately.

The exiting little hot hatch era is over,it was said the 200 Cup was the last one and so it is,i believe if this was N/A and manual and weighted less than the 200 people would still say they'll get a GT86 for the same money (supposed price),so who wants an exiting driver friendly car gets a real sports car a GT86,who wants a family friendly,practical,more comfortable hot hatch now has another choice.

[zorba_the_greek]

Good god. its a monster!

[R300will]

That front end is just terrible.

[greggy50]

Ali_T said:

Or this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFqslG0Axbk

And I wonder how many times a Clio owner will hear "mate, your bonnet is slightly open".

More likely to be "mate wtf did you spend 20k on that for"...

[Froomee]

Wow never have I seen a manufacturer ruin a car in one drastic change. That has to be one of the ugliest cars on sale right now or ever.

Fiesta ST, Corsa VXR or 208 GTI anyone?

It may be faster round a track, more economical than the last one all of which is justifiable but the 5 doors and the general "style" (if you can call it that) is shocking in my opinion.

[Mouse1903]

Before you get to the engine, it looks like a mini deformed MPV, and 5 door is also a big no no. The current Clio 200 is one of the best looking hot hatches on sale imo. Looks the part whilst remaining subtle

[fel71]

raptor600 said:

Will keep hold of my 197 F1!

Me too, it's definitely a keeper now.

[GTIAlex]

Ruined

[Speed_Demon]

forzaminardi said:

I suspect they'll unload this, a certain number will be sold to mainstream buyers looking for a 'sporty little car' and the enthusiasts will pass it by - until a 'surprise' special edition 3-door, manual gearbox RS Clio is released minus the silly sound simulation and available at your local Renault retailer for a 25% premium.

Clio Sport Trophy anyone?

[greggy50]

3rd post on here but this car is actually making me physically angry if I saw the person responsible for this on the street I would punch him.

I really wanted to the new Clio to be good I have a decent job sorted for after my final year at Uni and would have considered getting one perhaps as I love my 172 so far.

Why does it have to be so fking awful is everyone at Renault retarded or something it is quite clear most of the design department are blind and got confused with the scale of the renault badge on the front end just everything about it is utterly terrible.

I actually hope it flops several people deserve to be sacked for approving this so many things about it that are just crap.

[greggy50]

Speed_Demon said:

Clio Sport Trophy anyone?

Re-design and a new gearbox just to sell a few hundred to enthusiasts? no fking chance

[Darren61]

I've got to say, I really like it from the outset. Lets give it a chance as heres a reminder of what has previously been said about a certain car (yes I know I own it - hence the biased view of Renaults) but it does go to show that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover as it will most likely be a great little hatch...

http://pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=15...

[Glade]

Back good!

Front... Jesus-titty-fking-christ that's ugly!

And I don't normally jump in with those sort of comments!

[greggy50]

Darren61 said:

I've got to say, I really like it from the outset. Lets give it a chance as heres a reminder of what has previously been said about a certain car (yes I know I own it - hence the biased view of Renaults) but it does go to show that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover as it will most likely be a great little hatch...

http://pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=15...

When released that looked good though and all it needed really was the Cup or the Trophy model launched soon after and it was a great car anyway just the R26 added that.

This has the wrong gearbox, wrong engine, is to heavy and also fugly and no special edition will solve that

[Speed_Demon]

greggy50 said:

Re-design and a new gearbox just to sell a few hundred to enthusiasts? no fking chance

I want to believe

This seems like such a departure from RenaultSport beliefs. Comparing this to my 182, it's as if this new Clio is being aimed at those who want a Golf Gti but don't quite have enough. This saddens me greatly. What's left for us? A Suzuki Swift Sport?

[BBS-LM]

Bloody hell, now I have seen the actual pictures of the car it's worts then I could have ever imagine, that is one messed up car, what where Renault thinking.

[Chicane-UK]

Did their designers just get smashed one night to come up with that horrendous design at the front? I always thought the Clio Sport was a compact, handsome car even in it's most recent iteration but that is beyond belief... it's a total horror show.

And the simulated engine noise though speakers.. don't even get me started

[Gilhooligan]

I think it will, no doubt, be a pretty capable little car. But I also think they have removed many of the USP's that the previous Clio Sports had i.e. a 'raw' driving experience, at least for a modern car. I'll take a PH1 in rare sunflower yellow thanks

[forzaminardi]

greggy50 said:

Re-design and a new gearbox just to sell a few hundred to enthusiasts? no fking chance

It wouldn't be redesigned, all they'd need to do is stick a proper gearbox in. I assume Renault/Nissan, somewhere in their range, still uses a manual box?