The RenaultSport Clio 197

Features

Make: Renault Sport
Model: Clio 197 F1 Team R27
Origin: Braga, Portugal
Availability: April 2007
Price: £17,250
Major Rivals: Vauxhall Corsa VXR, Peugeot 207 GTI, MINI Cooper S

Description

Renault continues a tradition of continuously developing its hot hatchbacks. The F1 Team R27 will be collectable, but is significant in another way – it introduces the forthcoming ‘Cup’ chassis option pack. Renauly Sports Clio’s most intimate likings are:
1. Sublime handling,
2. Focused engine,
3. Rewards hard driving

Manufacturers don’t always exploit their F1 connections. Ford famously powered the 1993 F1 World Champion, and did their damndest not to tell a soul. Such subterfuge is not for Renault. Here is the F1 Team Clio 197, named after the R27 race car. Complete with yellow paintwork, stickers all over it and a winner’s laurel on the tailgate. That such promotion coincides with an alarming tail-off in F1 form is unfortunate, but let’s not worry. This model is limited to 500 individually-numbered examples, costs a pretty heady £17,250 – and has Anthracite alloys clothing red Brembo four-pot brakes. RenaultSport Clio 197 is a completely re-engineered set-up, which includes 27% stiffer front and 30% stiffer rear dampers, a 10% stiffer front axle, more flexible bump-stops and a ride height lowered by 7mm.