Clio RS updates

'Phase 2' Clio Renault Sport 200 and 220 Trophy announced

Experienced Renault Sport* watchers will know that hot Clios and Meganes have sometimes been a little slow out of the blocks, not really hitting their stride until mid-term updates address some of the earlier gripes. So it was with the previous Clio 197, short gearing among the issues addressed in the Phase 2 update to the 200. Looking further back it's the 172 Cup and 182 Trophy versions of the previous Clio we celebrate now, not the original Phase 1 cars. See also the previous Megane, which only really woke up when it gained a diff, eventually blossoming into the R26 and R26.R versions.

Anyway. More than enough has been said already about the reasons for the current Clio 200 EDC not quite living up to the expectation heaped upon it. We've had the arrival of the 220hp Trophy, with its extra power, tweaked suspension and (apparently) sharper tune for the controversial dual-clutch only transmission. And then we had the mad R.S.16 concept, with its manual gearbox, fancy Megane front struts and bigger 275hp 2.0-litre engine.

Sorry to disappoint but these modifications are NOT part of this Phase 2 upgrade, though we're crossing our fingers for a limited (and expensive) run of production cars based on a similar spec.

There is some R.S.16 influence in the way the car looks though, not least in the front DRLs shaped like Renault Sport's logo. These are a much smarter and more integrated look than the current ones and put further ground between the RS and 'regular' Clios, the system known as R.S. Vision and incorporating DRL, sidelight, foglight and dipped beam functions. It also looks very cool.

There are new 18-inch wheel options too, plus a general spruce-up of branding and trim. Further R.S.16 influence comes in the shape of an optional Akrapovic titanium exhaust system, following on from a relationship established between the two brands on the Megane Trophy-R project. No numbers are claimed but we're promised it offers "an instantly recognisable sound and ensures more sprightly acceleration" for a premium yet to be disclosed. No need to choose from the menu of fake engine noise any more, one hopes.

As Renault is keen to point out, there is an RS Clio for all tastes (apart from those who want a manual gearbox, mutter, grumble) with three chassis options and two power levels. Sport with the regular suspension, 17- or 18-inch wheels is the 'regular' choice, Cup shares its 200hp output and has 18s as standard along with a sharper chassis while Trophy gives you 220hp as before and a yet-stiffer chassis with 20mm and 10mm take out of the front/rear ride height. In its most potent Trophy form it hits 0-62 in 6.6 seconds and tops out at 146mph.

We'll consider this another step in the right direction. And hope the R.S.16 project gets signed off as a production car for Clio fans with sufficiently deep pockets wanting to drive the car the latest RS always should have been!

*We'll henceforth defer to the new branding and split the 'Renault' from the 'Sport'