Pic: Ciaran Nunan, Classic Car Africa

Renault Clio Sport 2.0 16V

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RENAULT CLIO Price: R 150000 Contact: 072 093 -8272

Renault Scenic 1.9 DCi
A/C, R/Cd, P/S, C/L, ABS, A/Bags A/C...
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RENAULT SCENIC A/C, R/Cd, P/S, C/L, ABS, A/Bags A/C, R/Cd, P/S, C/L, ABS, A/Bags Price: R 149995 Contact: Renault Northcliff 011 219-8000

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Today, 07 November 2009

› Malema’s life in danger

› Leicester sting Bok Bs

› Eskom chair faces the axe

› Nedbank, ANCYL make up

› Hofmeyr addresses Joost

Yesterday, 06 November 2009

› ANCYL, BMF back Maroga

› Vanilla Ice, ice baby?

› Eskom boss 'slaughtered'

› I have fallen hard - Joost

› Eskom boss 'pushed'

Renault is synonymous with hot performers. Locally Jody Sheckter, Scamp Porter and the like made names for themselves racing the Renault R8, while overseas the Alpine and mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo made a name for the brand on the rally stage.

The mid-mounted Clio V6 set hearts racing a few years back and the brand has paid homage to its motorsport successes with road cars like the Renault 5 GT Turbo, the Clio Williams (inspired by the F1 Williams Renault partnership) and, following Fernando Alonso’s F1 dominance, the Megane F1 limited edition.

2007 sees the SA launch of the latest hot-hatch from the Renault stable, the Renault Clio Renualtsport. When this new arrival made it’s way to our office for a test in our sibling Cars in Action publication we also decided to pit it against a classic Renault performer.

We steered clear of the mid-engined Renault 5 turbo and found a front-engined Renault 5 GT Turbo. Reasoning being that it’s more daily commute practicality, fwd layout, F1 heritage and awesome performance mirrored the ideals of the new Clio Renaultsport.

The Renault 5 GT Turbo came to the fore in 1985, shortly after Renault’s F1 Turbo foray, and eventually ceased production in late1991. A Renault 8 derived 1397cc unit generates power but performance is enhanced by a Garrett T2 turbo. Initially the engines relied on an air-cooled set-up and produced 86kW to rocket from o to 100km/h in 7.7 seconds but in 1987 the French mini received water-cooling and around 4 kilowatts extra, which improved the sprint time to 7.1 seconds.

Weight is another key factor in the GT Turbo arsenal and the Renault 5 GT Turbo tips the scales at only 820kg to make a very respectable, even by today’s standards, 109kW per tonne. Top speed is quoted at 193km/h.

Aesthetics, although slightly different pre’87, tend towards the aggressive side with flared wheel arches, front yellow fog lights, 13-inch alloys, deep plastic bumpers and the obligatory ‘80s GT strips along the flanks. Although relatively boxy the drag coefficient of 0.35 is out of the top drawer. The interior also does the job of boosting your boy racer image with side supporting seats, a three-spoked leather wheel and highlights of red trimming throughout.

The new Clio Renaultsport carries on this idea of an athletic appearance with flared archers, vents scoops and even a rear diffuser. The interior has buckets up front, aluminium pedals and a tidy leather steering wheel.

That said don’t think that these are all strap-on eye candy because they actually work. Aerodynamics are an integral part of the Renaultsport offering and learned from the Renault F1 efforts. The rear diffuser produces the equivalent of 40kg down force under highway conditions and up to 70kg when belting above the speed limit around your favourite track. The front fender extractor vents are also functional and are said to reduce turbulence and optimise the car’s drag coefficient.

Unlike the GT Turbo and most of its current day competition the new Clio Renaultsport breathes naturally without any forced induction. This doesn’t mean that you will be left behind at the robot though. With 100 horsepower per litre, the four cylinder Clio is at the forefront of the specific power tables and will rocket the car to 100km/h in a claimed 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 215km/h.

Compared with the Renault 5 GT Turbo’s 109kW per tonne, the Clio Renaultsport churns out 117kW per tonne thanks to an output of 145kW and a torque figure of 215Nm at 5550rpm.

Both the GT Turbo and the Renaultsport impress in the handling department, but with masses of first gear wheel spin and a wandering front end the GT Turbo definitely shows its age. The Renaultsport is calm and composed in comparison.

So which one would I take? Definitely the Renault 5 GT Turbo, because it turns twenty this year and pays homage to the flame spitting Group B rally cars and the likes of JP Jabouille in the 1500cc Turbo F1 cars.

Unfortunately, while there is a strong following and contingency of Renault GT Turbos in Europe, you can count the examples in SA on one hand so it is not easy to get your hands on one. Settling for the Clio Renaultsport is the only option then – and with buckets of passion, performance and driving pleasure not a bad second choice.

Thanks to Renault Auto Xtra for the loan of the Renault Clio Renaultsport and for pointing us in the direction of the mint Renault 5 GT Turbo.