This improved environmental performance is also down to how the new Clio RS will only be offered with a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox. So, for the first time ever, a Renault hot hatch comes without a manual transmission.
If you’re wondering whether this has dented the street cred of the Clio RS, the answer is yes. Because, you know, real men do the gearshifting themselves. However, we doubt any “real man” will be able to shift gears in under 150 milliseconds, which is what the new Clio RS is said to be able to do in Race mode (put the gearbox into manual override and hit the RS Drive button).
We also doubt any human can perform pitch-perfect launches each time, thanks to the drivetrain’s launch control function. This lets it do the century sprint in 6.7 seconds – 0.2 of a second quicker than the R27.
In more signs of this model’s newfound maturity, this is the first time an RS-badged Clio is offered in five-door form (like the regular Mk 4, the rear door handles are hidden in the C-pillars), and there’s a whole raft of new toys, all standard on the Singapore-spec model.
The Clio RS now comes with a touchscreen-controlled R-Link infotainment system, satellite navigation and reverse-parking camera. The R-Link also provides additional forms of “entertainment” by allowing you to change the Clio’s “voice” (channelled through the hi-fi speakers) to that of a Nissan GT-R, a previous-generation Clio RS or even a vintage Alpine racecar.
And just what sort of equipment does one get in the R27? Well, there’s the stereo, air-conditioning, cruise control and, uh… not much else. Then again, you do get the bits that matter (to the enthusiast, anyway), in the form of 4-pot Brembo brake callipers, those aforementioned Recaro bucket seats and gloriously short gearing that makes rifling through the ratios a hugely satisfying affair.
Whichever way you slice it, the new Clio RS is quicker, “greener”, a good deal more refined and better equipped than ever before (the last bit by a long margin).
That said, this Mk 4 Clio RS lacks a certain je ne sais quoi, and it doesn’t feel that much more agile, despite it weighing 36kg less than the R27 (the former tips the scales at 1204kg).
Granted, the new model has mountains of grip and poise (to say nothing of the new “toys” it has at its disposal), and you’d expect no less from Renault Sport. But it can seem rather wanting for driver engagement, and it’s not just because the rowing through the gears has been taken out of the hot-Clio equation.
Because of that new “recipe”, the Mk 4 Clio RS is a completely different car from the ones that came before it. It’ll have to be, especially if it wants to live up to the promise of appealing to a new target demographic that, in Renault’s words, craves comfort, adaptability and fuel efficiency. It’s hard to argue with that. These are qualities that the chomping-at-the-bit, surprisingly “dirty” (for such a small car) R27 doesn’t have.
So, which Clio is the winner here? Well, it depends on who you’re asking. If you’re the sort who enjoys hot hatchbacks red, raw and with the barest hint of “seasoning”, the Clio R27 is the clear choice.
Conversely, if you’re the kind who demands the automotive equivalent of a fine-dining establishment that can be converted into a raucous kopitiam at the push of a (RS Drive) button, you’ll certainly find the Mk 4 Clio RS highly tasty.
Renault Clio RS 1.6 (A)
ENGINE 1618cc, 16-valves, inline-4, turbocharged
MAX POWER 200bhp at 6000rpm
MAX TORQUE 240Nm at 1750rpm
GEARBOX 6-speed dual-clutch with manual select
0-100KM/H 6.7 seconds
TOP SPEED 230km/h
CONSUMPTION 15.9km/L
CO2 EMISSION 144g/km
Renault Clio RS R27 2.0
ENGINE 1998cc, 16-valves, inline-4
MAX POWER 197bhp at 7100rpm
MAX TORQUE 215Nm at 5400rpm
GEARBOX 6-speed manual
0-100KM/H 6.9 seconds
TOP SPEED 225km/h
CONSUMPTION 12.2km/L
CO2 EMISSION 195g/km
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