Renault Clio Renaultsport 200 (2009) CAR review

First of all , yes it is hideous, although not quite as vile in the flesh as pictures, but as an RenaultSport Clio owner I'm disappointed by it.

I have said before, and I still wish it was the case, the Cup needs to go on a diet, and have a lower price tag. My 172 Cup was around 100KG lighter than the reg 172, with no spare wheel, air con, abs, sound deadening, engine cover, thinner glass etc etc.... as a result of this diet it was also sold for some £3000 less. Maybe I'm being biased; I haven't driven the new Cup, but it irritates that this model seemingly doesn't count for much anymore.

& Robert - yes, 0-60 in 6.9 is quick for any hot hatch, having driven Type R's, C2 VTS's, 207 Gti & Cooper S’s amongst others, I can say from experience that mine is in a different league with a 0-60 in the mid 6’s. A front wheel drive hot hatch is NEVER going to be super car quick, but they never cost supercar money! I still remember that back in 2002 the RS Clio Cup then had the desirable tag of being the quickest accelerating car on sale for less than £20K.

0-60 is not indicative of real world speed I admit; if anyone ever went in a 5 GT Turbo in the 80’s or 90’s this would be apparent – 0-60 was silly quick, but with a 1.4 engine reps would be pushing it out of the way on the motorway. If a car has strong acceleration up to a ton that’s all that counts, and RS Clio’s & the like do have. I very rarely feel the need to go above this speed, and doing so (in the UK anyway) will see your licence taken off you.

Yes your Rover was a quick car in its day, I remember it being a real Q car, but I recall that it was over 200BHP so it wouldn't be a slouch! Even with your driving background though I doubt you would see which direction a 200bhp hot hatch went if you were behind one on a twisty B road in any Rover!
 

Apparently the worst part of this, done on the cheap facelift, can be undone by unbolting the front  bumper and replacing it with the previous version.