Renault releases Clio Renaultsport 200 Cup
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Renault
26th March, 2010
- Clio RenaultSport Cup launched in two versions: Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup and Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup Trophée
- New, more aggressive design with F1-style frontal aerodynamics, new alloy wheels and rear diffuser
- Independent steering axis front suspension with revised suspension and steering settings for both versions
- More powerful engine with improved low-down torque, economy and emissions
- Best power-to-weight ratio in its class (166 hp per tonne)
- Priced from $36,490*
Since 2000, the successive variants of Clio RenaultSport have resulted in it becoming the most popular hot hatch of
its class, with over 70,000 worldwide sales. The RenaultSport version of the brand's best-selling model has been
unanimously praised by enthusiastic 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 RenaultSport Technologies was to build on the existing qualities
of Clio RenaultSport 197 and take its inherent strengths and dynamism to a new level.
New exterior design
Clio Renault Sport 200 Cup's performance credentials are evident in its exterior design. Its styling includes
aerodynamic features which take their inspiration from the world of Formula 1:
- an aerodynamic blade built into the front bumper
- front wing air-extractors and a rear diffuser, two technologies which form a package that is unique in the hot
hatch market.
A powerful stance
As with the Clio RenaultSport 197, the front and rear quarter panels of the 200 are widened to accommodate the
1,520 mm front and rear track. Front styling incorporates a new, generously-sized, low-positioned air intake, designed
to feed cooling air to the normally-aspirated 147.5 kw 2.0 litre 16V engine. The sills, extractors and wide front and
rear quarter panels all highlight the performance credentials of Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup which features RenaultSport's
new styling cues in the form of a two-tone colour scheme based on a choice of Gloss Black or Anthracite finish for the
front bumper centre section and blade, door mirror housings and rear diffuser. The diffuser now incorporates more
visible twin exhaust tailpipes. A new design of alloy wheel completes the revised appearance.
Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup sees the introduction of a brand new, exclusive Alien Green pearlescent paint finish. The
pearlescent Liquid Yellow returns to Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup after only being available previously on the
limited-edition Clio RenaultSport 197 F1 Team R27. Mercury also becomes available for the first time joining Toro Red,
Racing Blue and Black.
Aerodynamics derived from Formula 1 technology
Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup's aerodynamics include a new frontal blade, front-wing air-extractors and a rear air
diffuser, a development which is unique for this segment. Thanks to these features which take their inspiration from
Formula 1, Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup's aerodynamic drag has been cut by 0.02 compared with that of its predecessor to
0.753.
The extractors visible on the front guards contribute to the car's aerodynamic performance by neutralising the
turbulence produced by the wider guards and play a part in improving the model's CdA. They also facilitate the
extraction of hot air from underneath the bonnet, while the vents are angled to channel airflow along the sides of the
car for enhanced performance.
Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup is also equipped with an air diffuser, an aerodynamic feature normally only found on
high-end sporting cars. Air passing underneath the vehicle is channelled via the flat bottom to the diffuser where it
accelerates before being expelled at a higher speed. Combined with the shape of the diffuser, this provides a zone of
low pressure under the car, sucking the chassis to the ground. Compared with a conventional wing, diffusers generate
significant downforce without resisting forward movement. On a motorway, at 100 km/h, lift is reduced by almost 35 kg.
The diffuser is designed to function in association with the rear flat bottom which leaves space for the exhaust
silencer and lateral-mounted tailpipes.
Personalisation
The interior performance credentials are mirrored in details such as the aluminium pedal facings, as well as by
the perforated leather-covered steering wheel with visible stitching and yellow centre-point marker. The unique
RenaultSport seats are exceptionally comfortable and ensure a high level of body-hugging lateral support. The new
yellow rev-counter includes an audible and visible gearshift indicator to help optimise gear changes. The size of
the figures displayed on the rev-counter increases as the needle approaches the red zone. RenaultSport badging is
visible inside the cabin on the rev-counter background, sills and front seats. Seats designed and developed in
association with Recaro are fitted as standard to the Cup Trophée. They are equipped with lateral airbags, plus a
rigid, glass-fibre/polyamide-injected shell which provides the sort of all-enveloping experience associated with
motor sport. The slots for the harness belts and integral head restraint add a further sporty touch, while at the
same time holding occupants firmly in place.
New suspension settings
As with the previous Clio RenaultSport 197, the new Renault Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup benefits from wide front and
rear tracks of 1,520 mm and a wheelbase of 2,585 mm for greater stability.
The front suspension's independent steering axis layout is unique to the segment. This technology virtually
eliminates torque steer under acceleration. Unlike a MacPherson-type arrangement, the steering axis of the front
suspension is totally independent of damping. To minimise weight, Clio Renault Sport 200 Cup's independent
steering axis front suspension employs aluminium components and guarantees precise handling and outstanding
traction whatever the conditions. The rear suspension features a programmed deflection torsion beam which has
been uprated to complement the efficiency of the front's independent steering axis layout for precise, immediate
turn-in.
Meanwhile, body movement is kept in check thanks to the larger diameter front anti-roll bar, up from 20 mm to
21 mm. Specifically-developed Continental Sport Contact 3 tyres (215/45 R17) ensure swifter, more precise steering
response. The new design of the standard aluminium alloy wheels is now 1 kg lighter and the ensuing gain in terms
of unsprung weight contributes further to the new car's enhanced steering response and crisp acceleration.
The 'Cup' chassis: glued to the road
New Renault Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup has been engineered to deliver an exacting ride and uncompromising driving
enjoyment. Its ability to corner flat is enhanced by stiffer springs (uprated 27 per cent at the front and 30 per
cent at the rear) for even better handling, and stiffer (by 15 per cent) shock absorbers.
Torsional rigidity has been improved by 10 per cent enabling the potential of the independent steering axis front
suspension to be fully exploited.
Last but not least, the Cup chassis now comes with a higher ratio steering rack (7.5 per cent quicker) which,
combined with other specific development work, favours feedback to the driver in conditions of varying grip.
The Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup weighs 1,204 kg, boasting the best power-to-weight ratio in its class at 73.5 kw
per tonne.
Powerful, durable brakes
Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup's powerful, durable brakes combine with the latest Continental Sport 3 tyres (215/45)
to guarantee stopping distances identical to those of very high-end sporting models. Pedal travel is progressive
and easy to gauge. The 312 mm diameter ventilated front discs are paired with four-pot Brembo callipers, while the
300 mm diameter solid rear discs function with single-piston TRW callipers.
More power and efficiency
Renault Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup is powered by the latest-specification normally-aspirated 2.0 16V engine
(F4R RS). With a specific power output of more than 70 kw/litre, this powerplant delivers an extremely high level
of performance for the hot hatch segment. In addition to the gains achieved at low revs, peak power has been
increased by 2.5 kw to 147.5 kw at 7,100 rpm. Meanwhile, the low-end (below 3,000 rpm) torque boasted by Clio
RenaultSport 200 Cup has been boosted by an impressive 20 per cent over that of the 197 thanks to a new cylinder
head and fine-tuning of the engine mapping. In fact, more than 95 per cent of maximum torque is still developed at
3,000 rpm.
The first, second and third gear ratios have all been shortened for punchier acceleration and to facilitate
motoring in built-up areas. This engine drives through a manual six-speed gearbox (TL4) and claims maximum torque
of 215 Nm at 5,400 rpm (compared with 5,500 rpm for Clio RenaultSport 197). Clio RenaultSport Cup accelerates from
standstill to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds and on to a top speed, where permissible, of 225 km/h.
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Despite the power increase, an illustration of the development work that has gone into this powertrain has
resulted in its fuel consumption being slightly reduced to 8.2 l/100 km from 8.4 l/100 km in the combined cycle
and CO2 emissions similarly down to 195 gm/km from 199 gm/km.
TWO DISTINCT VERSIONS
To meet customer demand even more closely, the Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup range is offered in two distinct
versions:
- Clio Renault Sport 200 Cup - for enthusiastic customers who are looking for a well equipped performance car
and are passionate about their driving.
- Clio Renault Sport 200 Cup Trophée - for customers with the same amount of passion for their driving, but
who are also looking for a higher level of standard equipment.
Despite its compromise-free, performance intent, the Renault Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup is equipped with a
particularly generous equipment specification to simplify and enhance life on-board.
The standard equipment specification on the Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup includes the following;
- 17” Anthracite colour five spoke open design RenaultSport alloy wheels, red brake callipers
- Climate control
- Bluetooth
- Cruise control
- Speed limiter
- Front fog lamps
- Electrically-adjustable and heated door mirrors
- Automatic headlamps and windscreen wipers
- One touch electric windows
- Eight airbags – auto-adaptive driver and passenger, lateral airbags, full length side curtain airbags and
anti-submarining front seat airbags
- ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
- Disconnectable ESP stability control
- Reach and rake adjustable steering column
- Renault Sport leather steering wheel with yellow centre marking
- Multi-function trip computer
- 4 x 20W RDS CD MP3 radio with fingertip steering column controls and auxiliary socket with RCA and USB inputs
- Drilled aluminium pedal facings
- RAID (Renault Anti Intruder Device) which automatically locks the doors at over 8 km/h
- Two height-adjustable rear head restraints
- 60:40 split folding rear seat
- Black door mirrors, gloss black finish to the rear diffuser and the centre section of the front bumper
- Body-coloured side mouldings
To this comprehensive standard equipment package, the Clio RenaultSport 200 Cup Trophée adds the following equipment:
- Renault Hands Free Keycard
- Electrically adjustable, folding and heated door mirrors
- Recaro Renault Sport height adjustable seats (anti-submarining airbags not available on Recaro seats)
- 17” Renaultsport BeBop alloy wheels
- Fascia with simulated carbon fibre gloss finish to the centre binnacle and accent strip
- Anthracite insert on door mirrors, gloss anthracite finish to the rear diffuser and the centre section of the front
bumper
On both versions, customers can also choose from options such as the new TomTom®, the first integrated GPS navigation
system, and metallic paint.
NOTE: * Prices exclude dealer delivery fees and the various state/territory statutory charges.
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