New Clio Renault Sport the Most Efficient Hot Hatch of Its Category
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PRESS RELEASE April 23, 2009 NEW CLIO RENAULT SPORT THE MOST EFFICIENT HOT HATCH OF ITS CATEGORY Since 2000, the successive variants of Clio Renault Sport have led to it becoming the most popular hatchback of its class, with worldwide sales totalling more than 70,000 cars. The Renault Sport version of the brand’s best-selling model has been unanimously praised by exacting owners as one of the market’s best hot hatches, and also one of the most fun to drive. The challenge faced by the engineers from Renault Sport Technologies was to build on the existing qualities of Clio Renault Sport and take its inherent strengths and dynamism to a new level. New Clio Renault Sport’s sporty calling is evident both inside and outside the car. Its exterior styling includes aerodynamic features which take their inspiration from the world of Formula 1: - a front splitter - front-wing air-extractors and a rear diffuser, two technologies which form a package that is unique on the hot hatch market. The interior is given over to driving enjoyment and can be adapted to suit the owner’s personal tastes thanks to a range of finishes and upholsteries. New Clio Renault Sport features all the ingredients that have long forged the success of Renault Sport models: - available with either the ‘Sport’ or ‘Cup’ chassis, plus an independent steering axis front suspension arrangement which ensures outstanding precision and traction in all conditions, - Brembo callipers and large brake discs deliver powerful, durable stopping power, - a high performance engine: specific output of more than 100hp / litre, with peak power raised to 147.5kW (203hp), plus extra torque at engine speeds of less than 3,000rpm compared with its predecessor. To meet customer demand even more closely, the Clio Renault Sport range takes two distinct lines: - the ‘chic and sporty’ line, for customers looking for a comfortable, well-equipped, status-enhancing car. - and the ‘outright performance’ line, for exacting connoisseurs who are passionate about their driving. This version is 36 kg lighter and boasts the best weight-to-power ratio of its class (6kg / hp). Renault’s latest hot hatch shares its genes with the other members of the New Clio family, and is versatile, safe and extensively-equipped: an integrated Carminat TomTom® satnav system is available either as standard equipment or as an option for €490. THE CHALLENGE FACED BY THE ENGINEERS FROM RENAult SPORT TECHNOLOGIES WAS TO BUILD ON THE EXISTING QUALITIES OF CLIO RENAult SPORT AND TAKE ITS INHERENT STRENGTHS AND DYNAMISM TO A NEW LEVEL. 01 02 OOZING WITH SPORTY CHARACTER THE PRECISE, EFFICIENT, HIGH-PERFORMANCE HOT HATCH 03 TWO DISTINCT VERSIONS, FOR CHIC AND SPORTY APPEAL, OR OUTRIGHT PERFORMANCE the vents are angled to channel airflow along the sides of the car for A RANGE OF INTERIOR FINISHES enhanced performance. A choice of three interior trims (Argenté Grey, Yellow and Dark New Clio Renault Sport is also equipped with an air diffuser. This Charcoal) enables customers to select the colour of the seatbelts, aerodynamic feature is only standard equipment on the very highest- dashboard trimming and / or upholstery according to their personal end sporting cars. The diffuser uses the air which passes underneath taste. Bucket seats designed and developed in association with Recaro the car to keep the car glued to the road. This air is channelled by the are also available for New Clio Renault Sport. They are equipped with flat bottom to the diffuser where it accelerates before being expulsed lateral airbags, plus a rigid, glass-fibre / polyamide-injected shell which at a faster speed. Combined with the forms of the diffuser, this provides the sort of all-enveloping experience associated with motor creates a zone of depression under the car which sucks the chassis sport. The slots for the harness belts and integrated headrest add a to the ground. Compared with a conventional wing, diffusers generate further sporty touch, while at the same time serving to hold occupants significant downforce without resisting forward movement. At 130kph, firmly in place. Customers looking for additional chic will be tempted by lift is reduced by almost 40 kg. The diffuser is designed to function in the alternative leather seats. association with the rear flat bottom which leaves space for the exhaust silencer and side-mounted tailpipes. A SPORTY INTERIOR New Clio Renault Sport’s sporty calling is mirrored in details such as the aluminium pedal covers and footrest, as well as by the perforated leather steeringwheel with visible stitching and yellow centre-point marker. The specific Renault Sport seats are exceptionally comfortable and ensure a high level of body-hugging lateral support. The yellow rev-counter includes an audible and visible gearshift indicator to help optimize gear changes. The size of the figures displayed on the rev-counter increases as the needle approaches the red zone which is set at 7,500rpm. As with all models developed by Renault Sport Technologies, Renault Sport badging is visible inside the cabin on the rev-counter background, sills 01 and front seats. OOZING WITH SPORTY CHARACTER New Clio Renault Sport’s sporty credentials are visible both inside and outside the car. Its exterior styling includes aerodynamic features which take their inspiration from the world of Formula 1, namely the front splitter, the front- wing air-extractors and the rear air diffuser. A POWERFUL STANCE Alien Green metallic paint finish which joins the catalogue’s four other metallic body colours (Monako Blue, Sirius Yellow, Makaha Grey and New Renault Clio’s original, hallmark looks have been revised and place Platine Grey), alongside pearlescent Deep Black and the non-metallic the accent on more athletic curves. The wings are 30.5mm wider to Dynamo Blue and Toro Red. accommodate the wider front and rear tracks which have been extended by 48 mm and 50 mm respectively. The more aggressive front end incorporates a generously-sized, low-positioned air intake, the mission AERODYNAMICS DERIVED FROM FORMULA 1 TECHNOLOGY of which is to feed cooling air to the normally-aspirated 147.5kW 2.0 16V engine (203hp). The sills, extractors and wider front and rear wings New Clio Renault Sport’s aerodynamics include a front splitter, front-wing all highlight the sporty calling of New Clio Renault Sport which features air-extractors and a rear air diffuser, a development which is unique for Renault Sport’s new styling cues in the form of the Renault Sport this segment. Thanks to these features which take their inspiration from Design Pack: a two-tone colour scheme based on a choice of Gloss Formula 1 technology, New Clio Renault Sport’s CdA has been cut by Black or Cold Metal Grey for the front bumper mouldings, exterior mirror 0.02 compared with that of its predecessor to 0.753. housings and diffuser which incorporates the twin exhaust tailpipes. New Clio Renault Sport sits squarely on the road thanks to its wide tyres The more aggressive front end incorporates an F1-type aerodynamic (215 / 45) mounted on 17-inch aluminium alloy rims, through which it is splitter. possible to see the Brembo brake callipers and big brakes responsible for its powerful, durable stopping power. Renault Sport badging is visible The extractors visible on the front wings contribute to the car’s on the tailgate, on the satin-finish chrome inserts of the side protective aerodynamic performance by neutralizing the turbulence produced by mouldings and under the bonnet on the intake manifold. the wider wings and play a part in improving the model’s CdA. They also New Clio Renault Sport sees the introduction of a brand new, exclusive facilitate the extraction of hot air from underneath the bonnet, while an even more extreme ride. A SPECIFIC POWER OUTPUT OF MORE THAN 100HP / litRE The ride height is 7mm lower than that of the Sport chassis and the resulting lower centre of gravity ensures improved cornering New Clio Renault Sport is powered by the latest-specification normally- performance because of reduced weight transfer. Torsional rigidity aspirated 2.0 16V engine (F4R RS). With a specific power output of more has been improved by 10 per cent, too, enabling the potential of the than 100hp / litre, this powerplant delivers an extremely high level of independent steering axis front suspension to be fully exploited. Last performance for the hot hatch segment. In addition to the gains achieved but not least, the Cup chassis comes with closer ratio steering (7.5 at low revs, peak power has been increased by 2.5kW to 147.5kW per cent closer compared with the Sport chassis) which, combined (203hp) at 7,100rpm. Meanwhile, the low-end torque (below 3,000rpm) with other specific development work, favours feedback to the driver in boasted by New Clio Renault Sport has been upped by an impressive 20 conditions of varying grip. per cent over that of its predecessor thanks to a new cylinder head, the Versions equipped with the ‘Cup’ chassis are 36 kg lighter than New use of continuously variable intake valve timing and fine-tuning of the Clio Renault Sport Luxe (‘Sport’ chassis). Indeed, the design of certain engine mapping. The first, second and third gear ratios have all been components (transmission, seat frames, wheels) and the dropping of shortened for punchier acceleration and to facilitate motoring in built- certain items of equipment allows the Cup version to boast the best up areas. This engine drives through a manual six-speed gearbox (TL4) weight-to-power ratio of its class (6 kg / hp). and claims maximum torque of 215Nm at 5,400rpm (compared with 5,500rpm for Clio III Renault Sport).