Renault Clio GT UK price

Following hot on the heels of the Renault Clio RS 200 is a version designed to appeal to younger buyers with lower insruance and running costs but the same striking design and sporty technology.

The Renault Clio GT sits between the dCi 90 Dynamique S and the hot hatch version in the range and debuts the new 1.2 TCe turbo petrol engine for the first time in any Renault model. Paired with the same EDC dual-clutch gearbox as the flagship model, it produces 118bhp and 190Nm of torque which is good for a 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds and 121mph top speed.

The suspension has also upgraded over the standard Clio with stiffer dampers and stops for better body control when cornering. The Clio GT benefits from the same switchable R.S. Drive system as the fastest model but it has two rather than three settings: Normal and Sport. Changing between the two speeds up the gearbox, alters the steerin, throttle response and the electronic stability control.

Along with the boost in performance the Clio GT also gets beefier styling that includes 17-inch grey GT alloy wheels, a subtle rear spoiler, side sills and the option of the striking Malta Blue i.d. paint in our picture. Despite the sporty intent the Clio returns tax-friendly emissions figures of 120g/km and returns an official 54.3mpg combined and sits in insurance group 14.

It gets plenty of extra equipment including the R-Link touchscreen infotainment system, TomTom Live sat-nav, sports seats and a leather 'GT' branded steering wheel, plus an upgraded sound system and air-conditioning all as standard.

Priced at £17,395 the Clio GT is £1,300 more expensive than the current range-topper but most of the price hike is down to the complexity of the EDC dual-clutch gearbox however this means the lukewarm version of the Clio is still £400 pricier than the entry-level Ford Fiesta ST.