Renaultsport Clio 200 Turbo full details

Renault has confirmed the full UK specs for its all-new Renaultsport Clio 200 Turbo. Order books for the new hot hatch will open on April.

The new Renaultsport Clio 200 is a big departure from the current three-door 2.0-litre-engined model as it is only available with a five-door body, 1.6-litre turbocharged engine and EDC six-speed dual clutch gearbox.

First unveiled at the Paris Motor Show last year, the new Renaultsport Clio 200 Turbo is powered by a 197bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. And while the power is the same as the outgoing 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine, torque is up 25Nm to 240Nm. Economy also jumps up by 10.3mpg to 44.8mpg, while CO2 emissions fall 46g/km to 144g/km.

The 0-62mph sprint takes 6.7 seconds and top speed is 143mph, helped by the fact that the new six-speed dual clutch gearbox has a launch control function built in, and that the new Clio weighs 36kg less than the outgoing car, at 1,204kg.

The old Clio was one of the best hot hatches to drive, and the new car has the potential to continue in that vein. The new car gets hydraulic compression control two-stage dampers - a technology that is normally used on rally cars. Renault claims this will offer a more comfortable ride, yet improves high-speed cornering grip.

Also contributing to handling is the RS Diff, which uses the brakes to mimic the action of a limited slip differential, plus larger brakes and suspension that is 10 per cent stiffer than the previous model.

Two chassis options for the new Renaultsport Clio will be available – Sport or Cup – with the latter giving 3mm lower suspension, 15 per cent stiffer suspension, 18-inch alloys and a quicker steering rack.

All cars get the RS Drive control, which includes Normal, Sport and Race modes. These progressively increase the engine’s response, give more manual gearshift control, and speed up gearbox shift times to 150ms in Race mode. The launch control function is available in Sport and Race modes.

The Renaultsport Clio also includes Renault’s R-Link system, which can be upgraded to include the RS Monitor – an on-board telemetry system which has a customisable display of engine parameters, performance data and a GPS-activated stopwatch for lap times.

Other spec highlights include Bluetooth, Renaultsport seats and the RS Sound Pipe, which transmits the sound of the engine into the cabin. This can be customised to sound like different cars too, including the old Alpine A110, R8 Gordini and Nissan GT-R.

The new Renaultsport Clio is built in the firm’s factory in Dieppe, France, and first UK deliveries will begin in June. Five body colours will be available, and full prices will be announced on 28 February.

However, the new Clio is expected to cost more than the new Ford Fiesta ST and Peugeot 208 GTi, which start at £16,995 and £18,895 respectively, but less than the £21,995 Ford Focus ST.