Dan Trent: Lusting after some Clio V6 madness

Only it isn’t any small French supermini. Because it’s got a 3.0-litre V6 engine where the rear seats should be. I love the madness that such a car exists. I especially love the madness that it’s not some one-off built by a crazed individual but was a production model Renault sold through its regular dealerships alongside normal Clios. And I salute the madness that someone uses one as indeed you might a normal Clio. When it’s quite clearly anything but.  

Admittedly Renault did have precedent, given the rally version of the Renault 5 Turbo was mid-engined and to satisfy homologation requirements a number of road versions had to be built. But by the time the first Clio V6 went on sale 2001 Group B had long since passed and there was no need for another mid-engined supermini. Other than it might seem an amusing thing to do. Bravo for that. 

The first-generation cars were built by TWR and look – to my eyes – a bit better. This red one is an unusual colour and looks to have survived in immaculate condition. It’s gorgeous. And five grand cheaper than a Phase 2 car at the same dealership. But the Phase 1 cars had a couple of major problems, first being that the 230bhp actually wasn’t that much given the looks. Second, that they were a proper handful to drive, in that light-nosed, snap lift-off oversteer way of old 911s. 

Launched in 2004, Phase 2 cars gained the updated lights, grille and interior of the rest of the Clio range but a new rear subframe and trailing arms increased wheelbase by 23mm, there was an additional 33mm of front track, new tyres and totally revised spring and damper rates all round to sort the wayward handling. They also had a bit more power and at 5.8 seconds were six tenths quicker 0-62mph, 255bhp pitiful by modern hot hatch stakes but delivered in such a riotous, gloriously noisy way it wouldn’t bother me one bit.  

I’ve driven a Phase 2 V6 round a track and it was just fabulous. There’s the weird thing of sitting behind a regular Clio steering wheel and looking at a regular Clio dashboard. And then turning the key and hearing the most ludicrously angry sounding engine fire up from just behind your head. The driving experience is a bit odd, the car feeling heavy and planted where the traditional Renaultsport Clio is dancing about on its tip toes. There’s weight to the steering, grittiness to the gearshift and although the noise is fantastic it doesn’t actually feel that fast. 

Doesn’t matter though. The Clio V6 is an experience car, in the way it looks, in the way it sounds and in the way it makes you feel. Given the prices of older Porsches, BMW M3s, Nissan Skylines and other desirable modern classics the £30,000 seems like relatively good value, even if it’s double what they were not so long ago. Bear in mind there were just 258 Phase 1s and 354 of the later car sold in the UK and you get a sense of their exclusivity. And the entire concept is just so gloriously outrageous I just don’t think you could have a dull journey in one. Half supermini, half mid-engined exotic, no wonder that chap in Kensington has settled on one as his perfect London transport. I’d happily join him!