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23/10/2011
REVIEW by EWAN KENNEDY
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Renault Gordini is back – and Australia now gets access to the red hot special editions, including the Renault Sport Clio Gordini RS200 Edition, the subject of this week’s review.
The Renault Sport Clio Gordini 200 Edition uses a four-cylinder 2.0-litre, 200 horsepower powerplant, hence the 200 in its name. That's 147 kW in Australian terms.
Though the naturally aspirated Gordini powerplant doesn’t give the same big push in the back you get from turbocharged units in other hot hatches, its delightfully fast responses provide plenty of driving pleasure. Touch the throttle and the Gordini jumps ahead, floor the pedal and the sound of the engine eagerly climbing up the rev band is sure to bring a smile to the face of lovers of sharp four-cylinder engines.
This Renault engine is for the purist driver, not the guy who’s only interested in a straight line blast.
The Gordini’s engine is mated to a six-speed close-ratio manual gearbox with a slick gearshift that defies the fact that the gearbox is a long way from the lever. It really does feel racing-car sharp in its actions. Gearing is relatively low in the interests of maximum acceleration so the engine is pretty busy at, or a bit above, normal highway speeds. The engine never sounds stressed and the fact that its redline is at 8000 revs means there’s plenty in hand during road driving.
Clio Gordini has a sports-tuned suspension that's backed up by an ESP system that can be fully disconnected for circuit driving. Brakes are from high-performance specialist Brembo and pull the lightweight car up in remarkably short distances from high speeds. The drilled aluminium pedals look just right. Wheels are 17-inch BeBop alloy units that feature Gordini blue inserts.
Renault Gordini is famed for its cars painted French Racing Blue. Unfortunately, our test car was done in a brilliant white rather than the traditional blue. Perhaps we will try for a Blue one next time…
Even in white, the Gordini’s body looks good as it has been enhanced by wide guards with extractor vents in the rear of the front units that leave no doubt this French machine is aimed at the full-on enthusiast.
Other standout features of the body restyle are glacier-white highlights on the front edges of the lower areas, as well as on the door mirrors, there's a shiny black front bumper and rear diffuser. Note also the satin chrome side extractors.
The interior of the Renault Clio Gordini is highly visible thanks to its striking black and blue interior trim. It definitely has a sporting feel, but achieves this without going over the top. We loved the style and the feel of the sports seats and feel they provide just the right amount of support without going to the aggressive extreme of needing to be having to clamber over the bolsters to get in. Obviously this will vary from person to person, but we don’t like seats that jam your backside into place so appreciated there’s some movement within the Gordini.
There is an individually numbered plate specific to the Clio Gordini, it’s mounted between the front seats. Our road test review was done in car number 801.
Also note the use of a Gordini badged metal gearlever knob and the shiny black centre console, dashboard inserts and air vents.
On demanding roads with little or no traffic the hot little Renault Clio Gordini RS200 Edition really comes into its own. It holds onto the black stuff with grim determination and the way you can control it through the throttle is delightful. Ask it to change direction mid way through a corner and it’s only too happy to do so. Our only regret is that we didn’t have time to take it to our favourite race track and really test it to the limit.
Ride comfort is not a strong feature of this Gordini. It’s uncompromisingly aimed at handing ahead of smoothness. But that’s fine with us, if you’re looking for a car with a tough look, but which isn’t brilliant in the handling stakes, then you should be going elsewhere.
Renault Clio Gordini RS200 Edition competes with plenty of other hot fours such as the ever popular Subaru WRX and Mazda3 MPS. These all sit around the $40,000 mark so it comes as no surprise the latest French hotshot has a recommended retail price of $39,140. On-road costs have to be added, but even so you get a lot of high-performance European supermini for under $45,000.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
Renault Clio Sport 200 Gordini Edition 2.0-litre petrol five-door hatch: $39,140
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard
Automatic Transmission: Not offered
Cruise Control: Standard
Dual Front Airbags: Standard
Front Side Airbags: Standard
Electronic Stability Program: Standard
Rear Parking Sensors: Not offered
Reversing Camera: Not offered
USB/Auxiliary Audio Inputs: Standard
Bluetooth: Standard (telephone and audio)
Steering Wheel Mounted Controls: Standard
SPECIFICATIONS (Renault Clio Sport 200 Gordini Edition 2.0-litre petrol five-door hatch)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.997 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 11.5:1
Bore/Stroke: 82.7 mm x 93.0 mm
Maximum Power: 147 kW @ 7100 rpm
Maximum Torque: 215 Nm @ 5400 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Six-speed
Automatic Transmission: Not offered
Final Drive Ratio: NA
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4017 mm
Wheelbase: 2585 mm
Width: 2025 mm
Height: 1484 mm
Turning Circle: 11.4 metres
Kerb Mass: 1281 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres
Towing Ability: NA
Boot Capacity: 288 litres
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Gas damper, coil springs
Rear Suspension: Torsion bar, gas damper, coil springs
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 6.9 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: 95RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/02): 8.2 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 6.5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 6.5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/100,000 km |
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