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Renault

Better late than never

Clio Renault Sport F1 Team R27

The Clio Renault Sport F1 Team R27 was first revealed over two years ago in January 2007. Now, finally, we will see this car in Australia at next week’s Melbourne International Motor Show, with sales beginning in April. Although, you may need to get in quick, as only 40 R27s are being imported.

Renault are asking a smidgen under $40K for their hottest of hot hatches, a $3500 premium over the regular Clio 197. If that tickles your fancy, you’ll be able to choose from a palette of three colours; Toro Red, Glacier White and, for an extra $1000, Victory Yellow.

Australia’s newest Clio is powered by the same 2.0 litre engine from the 197 model. So, you get a six-speed manual gearbox, 145kW at 7250rpm, with 215Nm of torque at 5550rpm.

The Clio R27 has the Cup chassis enhancements, which means with stiffer suspension and other tweaks, the more you throw at this little dynamo the more you will receive.

Brembo calipers (312mm front/300mm rear) are wrapped inside some curiously named BeBop anthracite rims. Making sure you can’t forget Renault’s F1 Constructor’s titles from 2005 and 2006 are a series of decals placed over the car, which complete the look.

Inside you get some tasty Recaro seats, saving six kilos over the regular seats. There is also climate control air conditioning and cruise control fitted. Renault’s ESP system helps keep you in check and a plaque individually numbering the car reminds you how special you are.

It’s great that the feisty little bugger is coming down under, but a shame that the feistiest of all Renaults, the Mégane R26.R, won’t be coming to Australia.

Full presser after the jump, plus more pics, including some cool cutaways proving, beyond doubt (haha), the car’s F1 links!

Categories
Renault

Renaultsport Clio 197 image gallery

Renaultposrt Clio 197

The highly regarded Renaultsport Clio 197 is set to go on sale in the first week of August. The 197, based on the Clio III platform, is the only model in the current Clio range that will be coming to Australia and is expected to be priced in the mid-late $30K bracket. While we wait for more information from Renault have a read of this article from the Courier-Mail. AUSmotive.com will be sure to test this French masterpiece which now has beauty to go with its razor sharp brawn. In the meantime enjoy these images and be sure to click on each pic for a 2000px wide image. The cutaway image at the end is very cool!