Tuesday 3rd March 2015

Renault - Geneva 2015

A Clio with a Trophy badge you say? Hmm...

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There's a white Renaultsport Clio on the Renault stand with a Trophy badge on its rump. Great news, given the incredible reputation of the old 182 Trophy. Only there's very little information on it. For now.

At present, the info sheet beside it confirms 220hp plus lower and stiffer suspension. At least according to our GCSE French. The flat white paint is new and so are the wheels by the look of it. The big selling point of the last Trophy was of course those very special Sachs dampers; no word on anything like that yet. Let's just say watch this space ... we may already have had a closer look.

The Kadjar is also on Renault's stand. Just in case the crossover segment wasn't populated enough.

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Click here for the PH Geneva news hub!

[Feirny]

I see paddles

[matt1269]

I hear they've updated the gearbox software for faster shifts (Hopefully)

[shake n bake]

Feirny said:

I see paddles

Wait for the idiots to wade in and proclaim you're living in the past blah blah.... I like manuals, it's odd how you just can't get them anymore.

[loose cannon]

I almost got excited hoping there was a manual box

[muppet42]

I would've been amazed if they'd introduced a full manual on this but I expect it'll address a few of the criticisms the standard car gets over its rivals. Doesn't look all that bad in the paint scheme either I reckon.

[J8 SVG]

How can it possibly be a trophy without bucket seats? I was hoping to buy this second version of the RS but I wont be considering one until they put in something as nice as my current Recaros, makes it a much more exciting place to be!!

[Feirny]

I had the proper Clio Trophy and I've a feeling this just won't live up to it.

I'll hold out judgement until I've driven it, though.

[Gandahar]

The main grumbles about the old one (forgetting it is now turbo with paddles) was the car was a bit soft and the gearbox a bit slow. So I guess they need to have at least fixed those. Perhaps the funky suspension, a bit lighter and option of Recaro's? I'm throwing some of my wishful thinking at it, left over from the Honda

[anonymous-user]

I don't really care about it not being a full manual, the paddles give the car 'something else'. If you want a manual, there's a plenty to choose from. It's not like they're a dying breed as people say they are, especially on these types of cars.

The problem for me is that it still looks basic spec. Even Recaro bucket seats would have set it off nicely, with that silly Alien Green colour!

Can't help but feel 220bhp is a touch lethargic on this model, too. And you can bet it's going to cost an arm and a leg in excess to the standard 200.

I'd be looking for something like a Leon Cupra instead, all pending price and further info.

[Oliiiiiiiii]

A Trophy with standard seats At the very least it should have Recaros (or similar).

[Frimley111R]

I always find it hard to get my head around how huge this Clio is!

[Dion20vt]

What a fat little car! The looks of this car do nothing for me, Ford and dare I say Peugeot have done a much better styling job than Renault with their hot hatches lately.

I remember in my late teens, seeing clio 172 and 182's and thinking they were the bees knees! And at the time they were! Only the Civic Type R was its real competitor! Golf/polo Gti's were luke warm hatches, astra GSI were quick but useless in the bends, Corsa SRI 1.8 - don't even go there! Saxo VTS couldn't keep up, same for the 106 GTI, 206 GTI 180 had same power but was a fat porker! Fast forward to Today and it seems the clio has been left far behind its rivals! How the tables have turned.

[soad]

Feirny said:

I see paddles

Welcome to the 2015. Technology, eh?

[jimjim150]

Ah Renault

I miss my little, lightweight, manual, N/A clios. Balanced almost to perfection (helped along with a few choice mods, RARB I'm looking at you)

I am living in the past and I don't care what anyone says about it, hell I might even buy another one, there are still numerous parts in my garage...

[loose cannon]

I thought flappy paddles were designed for plod so they can eat doughnuts whilst still chasing after you ?