RE: Renaultsport Clio: turbo, dual clutch confirmed

[Dblue]

Hoygo said:

Well its officially the end of an era,the end of the exiting hot hatch,Honda stoped doing one in 2004 (for UK),VW in 1992,other manufacturers like Ford stoped using N/A engines and everybody now uses small capacity Turbos.

Really is not a surprise,the Clio 200 was the last true hot hatch and alongside with the Megane R.S were the most exiting hot hatches on the market.

I think this new one is not such a disaster as everyone makes out now (typical) and surely will be even faster/better than the Clio 200,its available as a Manual too so nothing to worry,but as i said with the dimensions this big and the uninspiring engine no one will be attracted,if anyone wants a fast comfortable hatch goes for a Golf GTI.

Renault following VWs strategy on here.

Just because it's Turbocharged does not make it a less desirable engine. In Line 4s are never particularly charismatic anyway, and a 7000 rpm red lined turbo is a better power plant in most ways. Renault not so good at making them sound nice though.

[SSCooperS]

Game over

[Glosphil]

Antj said:

5 door is terrible for tall people though, hate smashing my back on the pillar getting in. shame always preferred a 3 door

Edited by Antj on Monday 2nd July 13:48

What? I am 6-foot and have friends up to 6'5". None of us have ever 'smashed our backs' on the pillar getting into the front of a 5-door car. Getting into the back of a 3-door is much more difficult.

I can see no real advantage in a 3-door car rather than a 5-door - only disadvantages. Longer door to open in confined spaces, heavier door, letting people in and out of the back, etc. A 3-door may be slightly lighter, and perhaps stiffer, but surely not enough to matter in normal driving on public roads.

[pugs9000]

I've had most renaultsports over the last 7yrs but i won't be buying this. However renault have never listened to there customers so they will forge ahead with this.

[MiseryStreak]

Guys, wait and see eh? Renaultsport have consistently produced great cars since they started. Everybody moaned about the 197 lacking torque, well now that's been addressed and everyone is complaining about forced induction, before they've even driven it!

It will be cheap, economical, practical, fast and most of all have great handling. If you don't like it just buy a 182 Trophy for £4,000(!) or a zero miles 200 Cup.

I'm placing my bet now that in its Cup iteration, it will be a class leader, again. K-Tec have probably already developed their 250bhp remap for it too, so it will monster anything else out there on trackdays for an extra £500.

[mooseracer]

You can't blame Renault for being arse-raped by emissions regulations. It's a sad day for me that highly tuned n-a hot hatches seems to be a thing of the past now

[s1rallyemark]

Its a shame but it makes my 182 seem like the last of the old school hatches (e.g. low weight and big engine)

[MagicalTrevor]

I'll have a 200 please

Looks bloated and ugly to me plus I wouldn't buy a 5 door version

[Groober]

Why 5 door only? 5 door hatches nearly always look st.

[nick-elise]

Who stole the Brembos?!

I agree that it is concerning this is a 5 door, but I hold hope - everyone hated the look of the 200 when it was first announced and it seems to have been forgotten now.

[pthelazyjourno]

Glosphil said:

I can see no real advantage in a 3-door car rather than a 5-door - only disadvantages. Longer door to open in confined spaces, heavier door, letting people in and out of the back, etc. A 3-door may be slightly lighter, and perhaps stiffer, but surely not enough to matter in normal driving on public roads.

They look better.

Hence why the vast majority of coupes and sporty cars are 2/3 doors.

Certainly smaller cars look better - all the shutlines for the additional doors makes them look crap.

Then again, this doesn't look that small, so may get away with it in a 307 type of way. Won't look great I imagine, but could look OK.

I certainly won't be buying one though, just looks big.

[C.A.R.]

Groober said:

Why 5 door only? 5 door hatches nearly always look st.

Focus ST is in the same position.

Reduced costs iirc. Reduced desirability imo.

[rwindmill]

Looks awful. Oversized body work and tiny wheels. Looks like it will struggle to weigh less than 1300kg as well. It seems that the last bastion of the truly light weight hot hatch with a big N/A engine has finally given in, and gone down the route taken by Citroen et al.

I have my 02 reg phase 2 Clio 172 cup as a daily drive, and despite the lack of toys and goodies, i wouldnt change it for the world. I certainly wont be changing it for that evil looking thing.

Question: Why does every new model of car, have to be bigger than the previous one? Why do car companies think it makes the new model better?

It didnt work for Elvis, it doesnt work for cars!!!!!

[MiseryStreak]

doogz said:

Calm down.

I didn't mean anything, I'm pretty sure the R500s will be safe. I meant any of its contemporary rivals. The F4R was pretty expensive to extract more power from. A remapped one of these will be a performance bargain. If it weighs the same as the current 200, then 250bhp will mean similar performance to an R26.R but with five seats (and doors) for a very small outlay.

[B Huey]

5 drs only?

What the fk are they thinking?

[thewheelman]

Another hatchback thats become bloated

[MiseryStreak]

What's the big deal? Just order it with the 'Goodwood' wrap and it looks like a three door doesn't it?

[thewheelman]

B Huey said:

5 drs only?

What the fk are they thinking?

Seems to be a trend of late, the 3 door hatch is in decline sadly.

[toon10]

Hot hatches just look better with 3 doors.

[[AJ]]

C.A.R. said:

Whoa. No matter what's under the camo there's no way that car can look good.

It looks really tall, as well. This will probably be to the Clio what the 307 was to the GTi6 - possibly the end of an era of desirable hot hatches?

This.

The previous/current RS Clio is a great little thing and even with less power than it's Megane sibling, it's NA engine, small size and light weight made it more fun to drive. I really can't see that being the case with the new generation. The outgoing Clio RS 200 Cup looked pretty good. Really can't say the same for this new monstrosity!