Renault Marks 40 Years Of Renault Sport With Special Clio RS

The aim of Renault Sport has been to produce a concept car with outstanding performance credentials. On paper, producing a Clio R.S. powered by Renault Sport’s most potent engine – the 275bhp 2-litre power unit with 265lb ft of peak torque – was an appealing idea, but the French firm had to make sure it was feasible. The development of the highest-performance road-going Renault Sport car ever took just five months from start to finish.

Finding the ideal way to house the engine, transmission and cooling system of the Renault’s Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy-R into the Clio was a significant challenge. The exhaust system was also revised as a function of the engine’s potential, while the suspension was engineered to match the car’s upgraded performance characteristics.

The design and development team had to deal with the constraints inherent in the Clio R.S. 16 project (body widened by 60mm, 19-inch wheels and optimisation of the engine cooling system) to produce an expressive, sporty stance. An LED R.S. VISION chequered-pattern lighting signature, featuring exclusive multi-faceted reflector technology, enhances the result. Renault Sport’s trademark Liquid Yellow has been combined with gloss black details to mirror the livery of Renault Sport Formula One Team’s R.S.16 F1 single-seaters.

After today’s first public airing in the streets of Monaco, the car’s next official appearance will be the Goodwood Festival of Speed on June 23-26.