The return of the Renault Formula 1 Road Show to South Africa has prompted Renault South Africa to release the Clio Renault Sport R27 Special Edition. But only 27 of the rare machines are being made available locally.

Based on the Renault Clio Sport, the Clio Renault Sport R27 Special Edition is distinguished by a special commemorative plaque inscribed with actual vehicle number, and the signature of Renault F1 racing drivers Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet.

Other exterior features unique to the Clio R27 include electrically operated, folding exterior mirrors finished in the same colour as the rest of the car, headlamps with a corner lighting function, extra-tinted windows, and 17-inch alloy wheels with an exclusive dark anthracite finish.

The interior also benefits from a number of items exclusive to the R27. These include sculpted Recaro racing seats, an uprated four-speaker CD sound system with MP3 playback capability, and fully automatic climate control.

But for many enthusiasts the under-the-skin improvements will be the ones that really count. And here, perhaps the most important update of all is the use of the Cup chassis, developed by Renault Sport Technologies in Dieppe, France.

The ultra-sporty chassis allows a 7mm reduction in ground clearance to lower the centre of gravity and reduce load transfer, thereby boosting cornering composure and precision. This has a direct, positive influence on the car's road manners, while its track performance improves by an average of 0,2 seconds per kilometre.

The Clio R27's lower stance is the result of a suspension that has been revised completely. In front, the spring rates have been stiffened by 27 percent, while the rear springs are 30 percent stiffer. At the same time, damper settings have been adapted to match the new spring rates.

The overall set-up shows a bending stiffness up 10 percent on the normal Clio Renault Sport, while more flexible bump stops allow the double-axis strut suspension to operate at increased efficiency.

The benefits range from greater steering precision and feedback, as well as improved composure, to increased stability under braking.

Talking of which, those red-painted callipers lurking behind the spoked alloy wheels aren't just for show: the braking system is virtually identical to that used in the Megane Renault Sport R26, and employs four-pot Brembo callipers on the front 312mm vented discs, with single-pot callipers on the rear 300 mm vented discs.

Powering this little monster is the same 2.0-litre normally aspirated engine also employed by the Clio Renault Sport. The four-cylinder unit pumps out 145kW of maximum power at 7250rpm, while the 215Nm torque peak is reached at 5500rpm.

Making the most of the short-throw manual gearbox will see the Clio R27 hit the 100km/h mark from standstill in 6.9 seconds. The standing-start 1000 m sprint requires 27.5 seconds.

Clio R27 uses an average of 8.4l/100km in combined-cycle use, while the CO2 output per km comes to 199g.

Of course, the R27 also looks the athletic part. Key visual features include the race-derived rear diffuser that creates rear downforce to aid stability, while front fender air vents extract hot air from under the bonnet.

Compared to the standard Clio, the R27 version has a wider front and rear track, necessitating the use of broader, more aggressively styled fenders. These provide sufficient space for the generous 17-inch BeBop anthracite alloy wheels.

It'll set you back R236 000.