Limited Edition Clio Renaultsport 197 Team F1 R27

Renault has launched its latest hot-hatch, the limited edition Clio Renaultsport 197 Team F1 R27. Using the base Clio Renaultsport 197 as a starting point, Renault’s performance arm has added its Cup Chassis, which is set to become an option on all Clio models later this year. Among the changes is a drop in ride height of 7mm, 27% stiffer springs at the front with 30% at the rear and lastly, a Brembo brake package with 312mm ventilated disks in the front wheel hubs and 300mm solid disks at the rear.

Completing the package is a set of 17” Anthracite colored alloy wheels, extra tinted windows, red painted brake calipers, Recaro seats and Renault F1 Team decals with optional stickers for the doors and roof. The rear of the car also sports an air diffuser, which is said to improve downforce at highway speeds, while extractor vents on the front wings reduce turbulence to aid the car's drag co-efficient and cool the engine.

Under the hood is a 2.0 16V engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox that delivers maximum power of 197hp available at 7,250rpm, with 215Nm of torque at 5,550 rpm. The 0-100km/h takes roughly 6.9 seconds and the 1,000m mark comes up in 27.5 seconds.

At £17,250, it shouldn’t take long for Renault to move the 500 individually marked cars with first deliveries to start in June.