Thursday 8th May 2014

Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo: PH Fleet

A trip to Spa-Francorchamps; can the new Clio deliver the thrills of its forebears?

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Vuh-vum - the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT tyres thrum across the concrete as I take a big bite out of the kerb into Eau Rouge. Pinning the throttle again, I keep it left a split second longer than seems optimal, then roll it in towards the right kerb. Hold the lock, then let it pull back straight over the camber change. A quick peek at the huge digital display tells me we're doing 105mph and, more importantly, the 200 Turbo EDC in front is getting bigger. Halfway along the Kemmel Straight I flick out of the slipstream and, rocking back and forth in the driver's seat like a jockey in the final furlong, slowly creep alongside my foe. We both steal a sideways glance and I find my stupid big grin mirrored in the face of the other driver.

Milner lines up Prosser as they enter the chicane...

Piloting that particular Liquid Yellow Clio - and my nemesis for the next 15 minutes - is none other than Dan Prosser, formerly of this parish and the man who was actually destined to be the custodian of the PH 200. In a particularly ironic twist, he just happens to have inherited the virtually identical long-termer of another well-known motoring publication. Friendly rivalry that makes this particular drag race all the more enjoyable - see the vid here.

I'd be lying if I said it all went my way though. The, ahem, lead was exchanged several times during that particular session alone. From outside it probably had similar levels of aggression and vehicle proximity to an average Friday afternoon on the M4, but within the cockpit it was Hamilton versus Rosberg at Bahrain.

By Raidillon it's done and dusted!

Spa delivered fun in spades then, but was this purely a product of a legendary track and some on-track banter, or has the Clio begun to shine? Inevitably the answer is far from a simple yes, or no.

Positives first, and for all the talk of going soft, fundamentally this Clio is still an impressive track tool. Alongside heavily modified, stripped-out, track tyre-shod, Clio 200 Cups our Turbo held its own. In standard trim, I have little doubt its predecessor would soon fade in the rear view mirror. Most of the gains come from the extra torque of the turbocharged, direct-injection 1.6 motor and accessibility of the EDC gearbox but, surprisingly, the chassis doesn't give anything away to the older car in terms of outright speed either, even if it goes about its business in a very different way.

If you're going to take it to a track...

Turn in to either of Spa's sweeping right-left-right sequences and, although the steering is quick and direct, there's more understeer than you'd like. Trail brake and the front will respond far more promptly. Indeed, it quickly becomes clear that turning in on the brakes is the key to decent progress in the Clio. Get it right and you can ride the swell of torque towards the exit, grab another gear and really carry the momentum to the next corner. Go in too hot, though, and the front will push on, and lifting off only sends all four wheels scrubbing disappointingly across the tarmac.

Mid-corner mobility is not this Clio's strong point. Nor do you get the traction of Megane 265's mechanical limited-slip differential. There's none of that hook up in the second phase of the corner that you get with a proper diff. Instead, if you're impatient with the throttle you're punished with a spinning inside wheel and lots of tyre squeal. It's mildly annoying on faster bends, but downright frustrating on slower corners such as the exit of the chicane and La Source.

It's got the legs on the old 200 for sure

If there's one good thing about this chassis' neutrality, it's that there's no excuse not ditch the electronic safety nets and select Race mode from the R.S. Drive system. This gives you the fastest shifts and entirely manual control of the gearbox. Even in Sport mode, upshifts feel ponderous, but Race just about has enough immediacy and response to distract you from the loss of the old six-speed manual. Equally, while the aluminium paddles themselves are good quality and a decent size, they could be improved with less throw and more obvious tactile feedback at the end of their stroke.

In recent years, two of the key ingredients in the Renaultsport signature dish have been Recaro seats and Brembo brakes. As much as their omission from the new car is a sad loss, in functional terms the standard fit items actually do a perfectly good job on track. The seats are as plush a place to spend a few hours on the Belgian motorway as they are supportive when turning into Blanchimont at 110mph. And thanks to larger discs (320mm, up from 312mm) the parts bin brakes gave us no issue at all. Sure, more initial bite wouldn't go amiss, but they didn't show any signs of grumbling or fading, despite being lapped two-up all day.

The fun factor? Increased if you've got a rival

Key points, then, from this first debrief are that Renaultsport has created a chassis that is hugely capable, but definitely errs on the side of caution, fitted a gearbox that's doesn't really wake up until you drive in Race mode and left the front end crying out for a proper mechanical limited slip differential. Whether, and to what extent, these observations influence the B-road experience is another matter, and a subject to explore next month.

Check out the data-logged replay of one of Danny's Spa laps here recorded by the Renaultsport Monitor system.

 

Milner versus Prosser - battle of the Dans at Spa

Trent versus Clio Cup racer, up close and intimate at about 03:00...

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FACT SHEET
Car: Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo EDC LUX
Run by: Danny Milner
On fleet since: April 2014
Mileage: 2,198
List price new: £21,535 (Basic list of £19,995 plus £650 for Cup Chassis including revised spring/damper rates, gloss black 18-inch wheels, red brake calipers and Dunlop Sport Maxx TT tyres, £595 for Flame Red i.d. metallic paint, £295 for Renaultsport Monitor)
Last month at a glance: Hot laps at Spa reveal a competent, if cautious, chassis set-up

Previous updates:
Clio arrives on the PH Fleet; faces an uphill struggle for popular opinion

[dukebox9reg]

Would be interesting to see if they will bring out a spicier version especially if Renault follows suit with the Megane and ups the power for the next model.

A Clio with a mild ecu flash and a proper diff sounds like it would be a cracking little car. I don't mind the 5 door lay out or the auto as such, just wish it was as capable as the Vag DSG units. Both the Renault and Ford systems do seem to miss the mark somewhat.

[folos]

I know which one i'd rather have!

[AV12]

I fear the gearbox will be the downfall of this car in the future as it will constantly compete against better faster shifting cars. Manual is better suited in this application.

[vescaegg]

Is it slow then?

I thought it was a lightning quick dual clutch?

[MikeG88]

vescaegg said:

Is it slow then?

I thought it was a lightning quick dual clutch?

Its got 4 cylinders mate

Renaultsport is no longer the brand it once was

RIP.

[vescaegg]

MikeG88 said:

vescaegg said:

Is it slow then?

I thought it was a lightning quick dual clutch?

Its got 4 cylinders mate

Renaultsport is no longer the brand it once was

RIP.

I was replying to AV12's comments regarding the gearbox. I thought the changes would be fast.

Do any Renaultsport's other than the Clio V6 have anything bigger than a 4 cylinder?

[dukebox9reg]

MikeG88 said:

vescaegg said:

Is it slow then?

I thought it was a lightning quick dual clutch?

Its got 4 cylinders mate

Renaultsport is no longer the brand it once was

RIP.

Dont get your point on the 4 cylinder front.

Bit Naive to say its not the brand it once was. There is still the Megane and they are obviously working on the Ring record again.

They needed to open up the market though to a widening audience. So its a chase of making a car to appeal to more and hopefully sell more or most likely leave the UK market. There's a reason why they have cut there range here massively. They aren't selling.

Saw some new Clio tourers (estates) in Germany a few weeks back and they looked quite smart. Shame we don't get many nice estates in the UK. Stuck with the Fabia and Ibiza really.

[Roma101]

Great move by that white last-gen 200 up the inside of both of you at 3 mins. Perhaps that is why you didn't want to move right as you hurtled towards the cup racer's rear bumper!

Looks like you had a good day and that the EDC only shows what it is like after you dig a bit deeper. However, I still prefer the N/A 200. But hopefully Renault can sort out the issues in the EDC mk 2.

[Maggi112]

The shifts are fine.

In normal mode (which is what people will experience first) they're slow and slushy. Maybe not ideal for first impressions) but this is fantastic imo. Good for fuel economy and makes living with it easy, this mornings drive to work in the rain and I just stuck it in normal and auto and let it slush it's way along totally oblivious to it doing its thing.

Sport is quicker and sounds lovely, with a nice parp on upshift, but the reaction is still delayed somewhat. It's good for halfway house though.

Race mode and it is something else. It's fast, responsive and does what I want and when I want it to. And in no realm is 150ms changes actually considered slow.

I think people need to drive them to start to understand what Renault have gone for. I wasn't convinced but now I'm a believer, and in fact an owner. It's world's apart from my stripped out Road racer it replaces, but definitely feels like it shares the same DNA and I grin after a good drive in the right mode. The upshot is its a car that works on an every day basis, I'm not always in the mood to wring it's neck and have my back broken just to collect a pint of milk from the shops.

Edited by Maggi112 on Thursday 8th May 11:09

[Dan Trent]

Roma101 said:

Great move by that white last-gen 200 up the inside of both of you at 3 mins. Perhaps that is why you didn't want to move right as you hurtled towards the cup racer's rear bumper!

Indeed, he'd been getting increasingly punchy all lap and though we had the legs on him on the straights he was willing to pull Clio Cup racing moves to get round folk. I saw him take to the concrete run-off and then grass on the exit of Eau Rouge to get around a Megane at one point! I looked over my shoulder to see if, as anticipated, he was going to chuck it up the inside and that was exactly the point the Cup car went onto the brakes. Smell it? We were both sat in it!

All good fun!

Dan

[peterattheboro]

Still yet to see one of these on the road. I've seen tons of Fiesta STs...

[iloveboost]

peterattheboro said:

Still yet to see one of these on the road. I've seen tons of Fiesta STs...

Well I've seen two new Fiesta STs and maybe one new Renaultsport Clio! I've seen more a few GT86s already and saw a freaking ENZO the other day which around my way (far from London, etc) is like seeing a unicorn! Logically I assume from my observations that a new Renaultsport Clio is as rare as an Enzo!

The most popular hot hatches round my way are still, by far, the 172/182 Clio, 2.0 Fiesta ST and Mk4/5 Golf Gti. I know give it time as the older models were sold for years but I rarely see a new hot hatch.

[WCZ]

awful driving by the white clio cup

[Terzo204]

I went to Spa in my 182 in 2011 and it was superb.

I loved Pouphon - the video doesn't portray the speed through there. It's a real challenge and doesn't appear to be double apex as it's so long.

Blauchimont is great too. I went through there a bit hot, rear end leg go and I held my breath….eventually it gripped and all was good but that was one of the scariest moments I have ever had on track. It's a quick corner and a long way back to blight...

I went with my mate who also had a 182. I insisted that he got breakdown insurance at the last services in Kent. He managed 5 laps before the engine went… He got his car back 2 weeks later.

Edited by Terzo204 on Friday 9th May 20:55