The Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo comes with a 6 speed EDC transmission (semi-auto flappy paddle to you and me) as standard and will cost £18,995 for the basic car and £19,995 for the Lux. It also gets an optional Cup chassis for an extra £450.
The Cup option lowers ride height by 3mm, has a 15% stiffer chassis, quicker steering rack, red brake callipers and 18 inch Renaultsport wheels. You'd be mad not to spec the Cup chassis for that price.
Other features made possible by the EDC gearbox are launch control, multi-change down function and a 3 mode RS Drive which changes accelerator, engine response, steering and ESC mapping. Further, it gets fully disconnectable ESC and traction control, Renaultsport limited slip differential and hydraulic compression stops - normally the preserve of rally cars.
Oh, and it gets a Renaultsport Sound Pipe which sends induction noise into the cabin - just like Porsche's system, and unlike BMWs' which plays fake engine noises through the stereo.
The Clio 200 Turbo is pitched directly at the Peugeot 208 GTi (£18,895) and Ford Fiesta ST (£16,995). Never mind the resurgent hypercar wars, the hot hatch wars are much more interesting. Most people can afford one, and we're likely to see them on our roads.
If the Megane 265 is anything to go by the Clio 200 Turbo will be best in it's basic form with Cup chassis (£450) in Flame Red (£595) and with Renaultsport Monitor v2 (£95) telemetary system. This totals £20,135.
We tested the standard Clio recently and found it to have a great chassis and steering but the engines were weak and the seats too squashy. The 200 Turbo addresses these issues and should make for a great hot hatch.
The Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo weighs 1200kg, produces 200hp and 177 lb ft of torque and does 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds.
Ordering starts on 8 April and first deliveries will take place in June.
