Renault CLIO RENAULTSPORT 182
Renaultsport's Revised Clio 182 2.0 16V May Not Be The Fastest Car In Its Class - But That Doesn't Mean Its Short On Fun. Andy Enright Reports
Cast your mind back, if you will, to late 1999 and the introduction of Renaults barnstorming Clio 172 16v. It doesnt seem so long ago that this was the cutting edge of hot hatch development, a car that threatened the very bedrock of western civilisation with its combination of awesome power and bargain pricing. Nowadays, 170bhp in a hatch is seen as bordering on the tepid and
Renault have upped the ante somewhat with the self-explanatory Clio Renaultsport 182.
This is not a car that brooks many surprises. If youre at all familiar with the Clio 172, the addition of 10bhp to the equation is merely more of the same but when the basic formula feels so right, theres little point meddling with the fundamentals. The premier league of superhatches are now nudging 250bhp but prices have soared way over £25,000, making cars like the Clio Renaultsport V6 and the
Alfa Romeo 147GTA the province of those with a whole lot of disposal income to fritter away on a plaything. The Renault instead aims its fire at cars like the
Peugeot 206 GTi 180, the
MG ZR160 and the
MINI Cooper S.
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Buyers looking for real value may also do well do consider the stripped out 182 Cup model. The power increase isnt the only change thats worth noting. Sixteen-inch eight spoke alloy wheels now sport Michelin Exalto 2 tyres and a sleeker rear bumper assembly now incorporates twin Clio V6-style exhaust pipes. The interior has been tidied up a little with smarter trim and a 160W six CD/radio system has also been plumbed in.
The dark grey dashboard is teamed with perforated alcantara upholstery with a light grey underlayer. The
seat belts are also finished in pale grey with a metallic finish. Although its possibly not the most uplifting colour scheme weve ever come across, its nevertheless suitably sportif. Satin-finished chrome dashboard mouldings, steering wheel insert and gear knob complete this modest makeover.
"When the basic formula feels so right theres little point meddling with the fundamentals"
Should you want even more focus from your Clio 182, you can tick the options box marked Cup Chassis Upgrade. This £200 option features tyres with even stiffer sidewalls, a 3mm lower ride height, and stiffer springs and dampers designed to offer a more sporting handling set up. Anthracite-coloured wheels and even more aggressive steering geometry make this package best left for the truly committed petrolhead. The front track is 20mm wider and the rear 10mm wider, giving the Cup chassis a more foursquare stance on the road.
The steering feels livewire, the gumball tyres transmitting the slightest response from the wheel to the road. The front spoiler features a flexible lower leaf to aid aerodynamics and the rear spoiler is larger than the standard item. Four additional exterior paint finishes have been introduced for the Clio Renaultsport 182 to give the car its full and rather cumbersome title non-metallic Racing Blue plus metallic Titanium, Black Gold and Arctic Blue finishes. The 182 Cup model features the stiffer settings but saves weight by ditching much of the 182s standard equipment it costs £900 less.
Performance from the 182bhp engine is suitably vivid, punting the little
Renault to 60mph in 6.8 seconds before topping out at 139mph. Its also enough to make the £14,700 hot hatch comfortably the quickest and cheapest choice in its class. Fitted with climate controlled air conditioning as standard a
Honda Civic Type-R would be over £17,000 with this option fitted the Clio also features ESP stability control, cruise control and automatic xenon headlamps and rain sensitive wipers.
Basic it most certainly isnt. Although its not the most modern chassis around, its still enormous fun. There arent many more enjoyable hot hatches than this one when the road gets twisty. An open B road is hugely enjoyable, though if it gets any tighter than that, the slightly baulky gearchange can get in the way a little.
Thats a pity because Renaults engineers have revised the induction system to improve response at low and medium speeds, tweaks which appear to have done the trick: power is always there, instantly, just when you want it. The engines quieter and greener too. Fuel consumption? Well, as ever with these cars, it depends just how much youre able to restrain yourself. Renault quotes 34.
9mpg on the Combined cycle but if you achieve that too often, then you probably shouldnt have bought this car in the first place. In true Renault style, safety gets its usual top billing. The previous Clio had already achieved a top four star rating in the EuroNCAP crash tests and builds on that by further including adaptive intelligent twin front and side airbags with two levels of inflation, depending upon the seating position of the driver and the severity of the impact. For the rear side seats, pretensioners are now combined with 600kg load limiters.
Finally, the latest Clio is equipped with Isofix three-point child safety seat attachments in the rear side seats and the front passenger seat, which is provided with airbag inhibition, should you wish your child to be placed alongside the driver. In summary, no other four cylinder hot hatch offers more power for the money - or more fun - than this 182bhp Clio. With all those F1 World Championships to their name, you'd have thought those Renaultsport engineers would have learned something. This car proves they have.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Renaultsport Clio 182 2.0 16V
PRICE: £14,700 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 16D
CO2 EMISSIONS: 194g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 139mph / 0-60mph 6.8s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (Urban) 26.9mpg / (Extra-urban) 44.1mpg / (Combined) 34.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Height 3770/1640/1417mm
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