New Renault Clio RenaultSport in Depth

Press Release

Page 1: Overview
Page 2: Punchy Looks
Page 3: Aerodynamics
Page 4: Chassis
Page 5: Power
Page 6: Safety
Page 7: The Success

The sporty character of New Clio Renault Sport is unmistakably echoed by its design, both inside and out. The revised body design accentuates Clio III’s inherent racy, muscular lines.

Designed for performance

Clio III’s distinctive, original lines have been further enhanced by the use of more athletic curves, while New Clio Renault Sport’s specific side design exudes extra power and energy. The wider front and rear wings, 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 Renault Sport comes with large 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.

The powerful, normally-aspirated 2.0 16V engine has necessitated a wide, bumper-mounted air intakes for improved 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 Renault Sport 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 Renault Sport features specific bodywork, including larger front wings (+42mm) designed to house the wider track and generously-dimensioned tyres. A specific side design was developed to offer an additional 28 mm left and right and incorporate the new dimensions of the rear suspension.

The standard Clio III floor – which incorporates a well for the spare wheel – has been replaced by a flat panel designed to free up space for the exhaust silencer and twin-rear tailpipes.

Sporty interior

New Clio Renault Sport’s interior trim echoes the car’s exterior styling. The drive station has been designed for driving pleasure, and the “drive it� spirit is immediately apparent in details like 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 ensures 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 which begins at 7,500rpm.

Recaro bucket seats

From the summer of 2006, New Clio Renault Sport 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 quality of ride normally associated with competition driving. The seatbelt slots and built-in headrest add the final, distinctive sports touch.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 Renault Sport seats ensure out standing 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 “Renault Sport� logo appears on the instrument backgrounds, on the door sill and on the front seats. Renault Sport� badging is also visible on the outside; on the hatch and on the satinfinish chrome side moulding inserts.