Take one 3-door Renault Clio, add some discreet styling kit, tweak about with the underpinnings, add some aluminium to the cabin and for the final piece of the jigsaw drop a 2.0 litre 16v engine into the engine bay - and hey presto! One Renault Clio Sport 172. The 172 standing for horsepower, to make it the most powerful front wheel drive ‘hot hatch’ around.
Renault Sport, the racing and competition arm of the French manufacturer are responsible for this spiritual successor to the Clio Williams, which itself stood out from the plethora of 205 and Golf GTi’s in the ‘hot hatch’ heydays of the early nineties. Things have ‘cooled down’ since then, ram raiding, joy riding and spiralling insurance premia putting the brakes on the ‘hot hatch’ phenomenon.
No longer ‘in your face’, the performance hatches of the new millennium are more subtle, more civilised, and SAFER.
At first glance, the 172 is all very unassuming. On closer inspection however, the tell-tale signs all hint at the potential lurking eagerly under the bonnet. The 2.0 litre engine is familiar from both the Scenic RX4 and Espace, any further comparison stops there because in this incarnation Renault have squeezed an extra 32bhp from the 1998cc unit. With variable valve timing this 16-valve engine develops maximum power of 172bhp at 6,250 rpm, with maximum torque reaching 200Nm at 5,400 rpm. To ensure a smooth drive, 85% of maximum torque is available in a range extending from 2,500 to 6,500 rpm. 95% of maximum power kicks in at 5,800 rpm, with little power loss beyond 6,250 rpm. Linked to a 5-speed close ratio gearbox, it delivers over a wide operating range.
Quicker than a ministerial Merc, the bolt from zero to 62mph is covered in just over seven seconds - and it actually seems faster when you’re in the car. Going the other way - back to zero - is done in well under three seconds. Top speed, 138mph, is for the race track only. All this sizzling performance is transferred to the road through 15 inch OZ double spoke alloys that are unique to the Clio Sport - shod in Michelin 195/50 rubbers. Larger tyres mean more grip which translates to great roadholding and a feeling that you are stuck to the road.
Renault Sport developed the suspension which features a lowered ride height (by 15mm), wider front and rear tracks (27mm at the front and by 14mm at the rear). Disc brakes are fitted all-round with ABS. What makes this car all the more incredible is that the sparkling performance doesn’t hurt the pocket at the pumps. It returns a combined fuel consumption figure of 35.8mpg with a useful tank capacity of 50 litres.
Below 5,500rpm the engine willing trundles along, stir it up and push above that rev band and it really screams into life with a slick power upsurge and a beautiful tone from the stainless steel exhaust system. Approaching the redline in second gear and the speed limit is reached (not breached). The whole package gels well, the cars handling ideally matched to the performance ensuring a composed if slightly soft ride. Yet, it’s surefooted when cornering hard with positive feedback through the sports steering rack.
But speed and power are not the only features of this little pocket rocket. If the exterior oozes shades of sporty spice then the interior has shades of posh spice with leather and suede to the fore. The body-hugging supportive bucket seats are a mix of Leather and Alcantara suede. The steering wheel also gets the Alcantara treatment. There’s aluminium effect inset panels on the centre console and door handles. The gear-knob is real aluminium (and absolutely freezing in the morning) and you also get drilled aluminium pedals and white sports dials add to the standard equipment which also includes air conditioning and a CD player. Safety highlights include more airbags the Dail with both driver, front passenger and lateral airbags standard. Also standard are double optic headlamps, front fog lamps, body-coloured mirrors, remote-control central locking, electric front windows, height and lumbar adjustable driver’s seat and height-adjustable steering wheel.
This stylish sporty hatchback with a fine pedigree is yours for only £20,250, ex-works. Whatever way you look at it, the Clio Sport 172 adds up to the perfect 10 (1+7+2=10). Fancy something even more powerful ?? then there’s always the outrageous 230bhp Renault Sport V6 with a 3.0 litre 24v engine driving through a six speed gearbox and housed where the rear seats used to be!
May 2001
by Rob King
