CLIO RACES TO THE TOP
FOR YOU: EASY TO DRIVE, FAST, AND EXPRESSING THE LINK BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THE TRACK
Style of exclusive design choices, plus comfort and convenience make the new Renault greatly coveted. Glen Hill
Renault are celebrating 40 years of participation in Formula One by adding a limited edition to the Clio R.S. Range – The Clio R.S. 18 F1. If there was such a series as Formula Fun this Renault would slot right in.
The Clio R.S. 18 is powered by a 1.6L turbo-charged engine which delivers 162kW at 6 050rpm and torque of 280Nm. This is mated to an EDC 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It has three driving modes: normal, sport and race – which each alter the mapping of the gearbox, ESC behaviour, steering and the sensitivity of the accelerator pedal. While driving it around Zwartkops Raceway, sport or race were the only options.
It also has a lowered and stiffened Trophy chassis, front suspension featuring hydraulic compression stops, and an Akrapovic exhaust system.
The Clio R.S. 18 is easy to drive and will appeal to just about anyone. It’s fast enough, but not brutal or intimidating in sport mode. For the more advanced driver there is the race mode which confiscates the electronic driver aids and allows you to change gears at your discretion via the paddle shifts.
Well bolstered seats hold driver and passenger securely but comfortably and the exhaust note rounds off the performance experience. There is also a launch control function for the quickest possible starts and you can even record your lap times.
Normal mode changes the car to pretty much just that – normal.
Boldly expressing the link between the race track and the road, Clio R.S. 18 bears the same name as the Renault F1 race car competing in the Grand Prix. It also features the same iconic colour scheme as the Renault Sport F1 Team car with the black cloak and accented liquid yellow.
The Clio R.S. 18’s unique styling continues with the Renault Sport decals added to the door panels and the roof. The doorsills on this limited edition model also give a sense of exclusivity. The blacked out badging and rear diffuser are contrasted by the yellow details on the side strips. My view is that these are too hard to see and that the yellow contrast should be extended to them too. Of course the R.S. 18 needs to be able to do the daily duty of commuting and so carries a high level of comfort and convenience: Onboard navigation on offer via the 7” touchscreen, with a range of other easy-to-use one touch functionalities – Multimedia, radio and telephone systems with Bluetooth connectivity. The cruise control speed limiter, with steering wheel mounted controls allow for speed adjust-