Press Release
The hot hatch with passion and driving pleasure
The challenge faced by Renault Sport Technologies' engineers when first penning New Clio Renaultsport 197 was to respect the original personality of Clio III while at the same time highlighting the newcomer's own dynamic qualities. The result is an outstanding car which puts the accent firmly on performance, passion and driving pleasure and hits the UK market in early Summer.
New Clio Renaultsport stands out as a worthy successor to Clio Renaultsport 182 2.0 16V and features a groundbreaking first in its segment in the form of a rear air diffuser which uses technology derived directly from Formula 1. In association with the extractor vents in the front wings, it ensures excellent aerodynamic performance.
Sportier than ever, New Clio Renaultsport is powered by an evolution of the normally-aspirated 2.0 16V engine, the power of which has been increased to 197hp. This is equivalent to near 100hp/litre, making it the highest specific power output of its category. This has been achieved partly thanks to an increase in its volumetric efficiency which has not only improved engine power but has also taken torque to a best-in-class 215Nm at 5,550rpm.
Acceleration from standstill to 62 mph requires a mere 6.9 seconds, while the kilometre standing start is covered in just 27.5 seconds. Top speed is 134 mph. With a combined cycle fuel consumption of 31.7 mpg (209g of CO2/km), New Clio Renaultsport's fuel consumption is amongst the lowest of the hot hatch segment for cars of comparable power output.
Coupled with the new six-speed gearbox, this powerful, responsive engine offers first-class sports performance and driving pleasure. The double-axis strut system guarantees rigorously precise handling. New Clio Renaultsport is built at Renault's Dieppe plant, which specialises in the production of the brand's sports models.
Punchy looks
New Clio Renaultsport 197 reveals its sports heritage both inside and out. The exterior design features specific body parts which accentuate Clio III's racy, muscular styling.
Designed for performance
Clio III's distinctive, original lines have been further enhanced by the use of more athletic curves, while New Clio Renaultsport's specific side design exudes extra power and energy. The wider front and rear wings, lowered stance, profiled side skirts and semi-rigid under-bumper splitter combine with the extractor vents and diffuser to assert the new car's advanced aerodynamic engineering and sports heritage.
New Clio Renaultsport comes with generously-dimensioned tyres (215/45) and 17-inch light alloy wheels which barely conceal the Brembo brake callipers and big discs that ensure powerful and durable stopping performance.
Developed jointly by Renault Sport Technologies and Renault's Powertrain Engineering Department, the powerful, normally-aspirated 2.0 16V calls on wide, bumper-mounted air intakes for additional engine cooling. The front and rear bumpers, side protective mouldings and exterior mirrors are all body-coloured, while the door handles are in satin-finish chrome.
New Clio Renaultsport 197 will be available in five exclusive colours: two non-metallic colours (Toro Red and Dynamo Blue), plus three metallic colours (Monako Blue, Deep Black and Makaha Grey).
Styling modifications
New Clio Renaultsport features specific bodywork, including larger front wings (+42mm) designed to house the wider track and generously-dimensioned tyres, while the additional 28mm left and right at the rear have prompted a specific side design.
The standard Clio III floor – which incorporates a well for the spare wheel – has been replaced by a flat panel designed to free up space for the exhaust silencer and twin-rear tailpipes. Meanwhile, the spare wheel has been replaced by two tyre repair aerosols.
Sporty interior
New Clio Renaultsport's interior trim echoes the car's exterior styling. The "drive it" spirit is immediately apparent in details such as the aluminium pedals, footrest* and perforated-leather steering wheel with red centre-point stitching. For added comfort and efficiency, the design of the steering wheel itself assists perfect grip for the hands.
Designed and positioned for optimal clarity, the instruments feature white data on a black background. The rev counter incorporates a gear-change indicator light, while the size of the figures increases as the needle gets closer to the red zone at 7,500rpm.
The overriding dark charcoal colour scheme is offset by the chrome-zinc centre console and dashboard inserts which echo technology and sports performance.
Specially designed Renaultsport seats ensure outstanding comfort and effective lateral support which enable the driver to feel totally at one with his or her machine, while the metallic grey seatbelts are in perfect harmony with the new dark charcoal and metallic black "Entresol" upholstery.
As with all Renault Sport Technologies-developed models, the exclusive "Renaultsport" logo appears on the instrument backgrounds, on the door sill and on the front seats. "Renaultsport" badging is also visible on the outside; on the hatch and on the satin-finish chrome side moulding inserts.
* Left-hand drive vehicles only.
Recaro bucket seats
From the summer of 2006, New Clio Renaultsport 197 will be available with optional bucket seats designed and developed in association with world-renowned Recaro. Perfectly in keeping with the vehicle's sporty interior ambience, they are trimmed with "Entresol" upholstery in harmony with the rear bench seat. In addition to housing lateral airbags, these seats feature a rigid, polyamide and fibreglass-injected shell for the sort of all-enveloping experience normally associated with competition driving. The seatbelt slots and built-in headrest add the final, distinctive sports touch.
Formula 1-derived aerodynamics
The aerodynamics of New Clio Renaultsport 197 have benefited from extensive development work. In addition to front wing extractor vents, the new car features a groundbreaking first for this type of vehicle in the form of a rear air diffuser.
Air diffuser: racing technology
Both visually and technologically, New Clio Renaultsport's most striking technological innovation lies in the design of the rear bumper which incorporates an air diffuser. Derived from Formula 1, this feature has only ever previously been seen on range-topping, high-priced sports cars.
The diffuser's purpose is to prevent rear-end lift and maintain stability at high speed by channelling air flow in such a way to increase the suction effect. The radius of the diffuser's curve is engineered to create a zone of low pressure beneath the car.
The downforce generated by the diffuser means there is no need for a rear spoiler to counter the phenomenon of lift. For optimal stability, the system reduces lift by a factor of three and produces the equivalent of 40kg of rear downforce at very high speeds without (on track) detracting from the car's carefully honed aerodynamics designed to achieve a low CdA.
To maximise the diffuser’s effectiveness, the flush-fitted dual exhausts are housed within the outer channels. Positioned in this way, they do not interfere with the efficiency of the aerodynamics.
Extractor vents for optimised performance
The front wing extractor vents also have an aerodynamic function by reducing turbulence to optimise the car's drag coefficient. The extractor vents facilitate both the flow and hot air from under the bonnet. At the same time, the vents direct air flow along the sides of the car to further enhance performance.
New Clio Renaultsport 197 also comes with a specific bumper and grille, as well as a semi-rigid aerodynamic splitter which restricts the amount of air that passes underneath the car.
Diffusers in Formula 1
The diffuser is one of the most significant features of modern Formula 1 aerodynamics technology and exploits the air that passes underneath the car to draw the chassis to the ground. The diffuser is one of the most significant features of modern Formula 1 aerodynamics technology and exploits the speed of the air that passes underneath the car to draw the chassis to the ground. Airflow passing underneath the car at the front is channeled by a flat bottom to the diffuser where the air is accelerated before being forced out at the rear, thereby creating a zone of low pressure which "sucks" the car to the ground. Like a conventional wing, the diffuser generates significant vertical downforce but without impeding the car’s forward movement.
Renault Sport Technologies' engineers have exploited the same principle to ensure that New Clio Renaultsport 197 stays "glued" to the road.
