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By Henry Biggs,
Last updated March 06 2006
The new Clio III has already been well received, picking up the European Car of the Year award and offering a far more mature driving experience than its predecessor which led some to believe that a replacement for the hot Clio 182 might be a bit, well, grown up. Thankfully it seems that Renaultsport’s engineers haven’t forgotten their playful side and have plundered technology from the victorious F1 team to ensure the Clio 197 keeps its driver smiling. As the name suggests, power has taken a hike, the two-litre, four-cylinder engine now pumps out 197bhp at 7,250rpm and 215Nm at 5,500rpm. A figure approaching 100bhp per litre is quite an achievement for a normally aspirated engine. Renault claims 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds, a top speed of 134mph while still achieving a combined fuel consumption figure of 31.7mpg.
The power is fed through a new six-speed gearbox to the front wheels which wear 18-inch alloys as standard over Brembo callipers gripping cross-drilled brakes. An increase in track both front and rear by 48mm and 50mm respectively sees the Clio gain wider wings to cover the rubber while the wheelbase also grows by 10mm. In a first in this class of car, the 197 gets a diffuser under the rear bumper. Derived from F1 technology this means air flowing under the car is channelled over a flat bottom panel to the diffuser where it is accelerated before passing out of the back of the car. This creates an area of low pressure which Renault claims adds 40kg of downforce at high speeds and does away with the need for a rear spoiler.
The new Clio III has already been well received, picking up the European Car of the Year award and offering a far more mature driving experience than its predecessor which led some to believe that a replacement for the hot Clio 182 might be a bit, well, grown up. Thankfully it seems that Renaultsport’s engineers haven’t forgotten their playful side and have plundered technology from the victorious F1 team to ensure the Clio 197 keeps its driver smiling. As the name suggests, power has taken a hike, the two-litre, four-cylinder engine now pumps out 197bhp at 7,250rpm and 215Nm at 5,500rpm. A figure approaching 100bhp per litre is quite an achievement for a normally aspirated engine. Renault claims 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds, a top speed of 134mph while still achieving a combined fuel consumption figure of 31.7mpg.
The power is fed through a new six-speed gearbox to the front wheels which wear 18-inch alloys as standard over Brembo callipers gripping cross-drilled brakes. An increase in track both front and rear by 48mm and 50mm respectively sees the Clio gain wider wings to cover the rubber while the wheelbase also grows by 10mm. In a first in this class of car, the 197 gets a diffuser under the rear bumper. Derived from F1 technology this means air flowing under the car is channelled over a flat bottom panel to the diffuser where it is accelerated before passing out of the back of the car. This creates an area of low pressure which Renault claims adds 40kg of downforce at high speeds and does away with the need for a rear spoiler.
The Clio also wears aggressive looking vents behind its front wheels which Renault say help extract hot air from under the bonnet as well as smoothing the airflow along the side of the car. The exterior styling is rather restrained with a deep front bumper incorporating a large grille, pumped up wheelarches, colour coded side skirts and twin exhausts neatly faired into the diffuser. Renault are promising a decent drive thanks to a double axis strut system front suspension, a lowered ride height and 25% stiffer rear suspension. The new front suspension, ESP and ASR traction control will eliminate torque steer we are told.
The Clio III is already light years ahead of the old model in terms of interior comfort and the 197 gains some sporty touches in the form of aluminium pedals, a fat, leather trimmed three-spoke steering wheel, a sportier looking instrument pack and a gearchange light incorporated into the rev-counter to warn when the 7,500rpm red line is approaching. The Renaultsport Clio 197 goes on sale in early summer and later in the year will face stiff competition from the new Honda Civic Type-R which will boast identical horsepower figures as well as the more powerful Ford Focus ST and Vauxhall VXR.
Please Proton, could we have this engine in the New SRM? the Waja already has the 1.8 version of the same renault engine and the BTCC Impian is using the same 2.0 version of the engine too. So it shouldnt be a big problem to put this 197hp 2.0 engine in the SRM does it? It should make a nice new version of the Satria GTi.
Last updated March 06 2006
The new Clio III has already been well received, picking up the European Car of the Year award and offering a far more mature driving experience than its predecessor which led some to believe that a replacement for the hot Clio 182 might be a bit, well, grown up. Thankfully it seems that Renaultsport’s engineers haven’t forgotten their playful side and have plundered technology from the victorious F1 team to ensure the Clio 197 keeps its driver smiling. As the name suggests, power has taken a hike, the two-litre, four-cylinder engine now pumps out 197bhp at 7,250rpm and 215Nm at 5,500rpm. A figure approaching 100bhp per litre is quite an achievement for a normally aspirated engine. Renault claims 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds, a top speed of 134mph while still achieving a combined fuel consumption figure of 31.7mpg.
The power is fed through a new six-speed gearbox to the front wheels which wear 18-inch alloys as standard over Brembo callipers gripping cross-drilled brakes. An increase in track both front and rear by 48mm and 50mm respectively sees the Clio gain wider wings to cover the rubber while the wheelbase also grows by 10mm. In a first in this class of car, the 197 gets a diffuser under the rear bumper. Derived from F1 technology this means air flowing under the car is channelled over a flat bottom panel to the diffuser where it is accelerated before passing out of the back of the car. This creates an area of low pressure which Renault claims adds 40kg of downforce at high speeds and does away with the need for a rear spoiler.
The new Clio III has already been well received, picking up the European Car of the Year award and offering a far more mature driving experience than its predecessor which led some to believe that a replacement for the hot Clio 182 might be a bit, well, grown up. Thankfully it seems that Renaultsport’s engineers haven’t forgotten their playful side and have plundered technology from the victorious F1 team to ensure the Clio 197 keeps its driver smiling. As the name suggests, power has taken a hike, the two-litre, four-cylinder engine now pumps out 197bhp at 7,250rpm and 215Nm at 5,500rpm. A figure approaching 100bhp per litre is quite an achievement for a normally aspirated engine. Renault claims 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds, a top speed of 134mph while still achieving a combined fuel consumption figure of 31.7mpg.
The power is fed through a new six-speed gearbox to the front wheels which wear 18-inch alloys as standard over Brembo callipers gripping cross-drilled brakes. An increase in track both front and rear by 48mm and 50mm respectively sees the Clio gain wider wings to cover the rubber while the wheelbase also grows by 10mm. In a first in this class of car, the 197 gets a diffuser under the rear bumper. Derived from F1 technology this means air flowing under the car is channelled over a flat bottom panel to the diffuser where it is accelerated before passing out of the back of the car. This creates an area of low pressure which Renault claims adds 40kg of downforce at high speeds and does away with the need for a rear spoiler.
The Clio also wears aggressive looking vents behind its front wheels which Renault say help extract hot air from under the bonnet as well as smoothing the airflow along the side of the car. The exterior styling is rather restrained with a deep front bumper incorporating a large grille, pumped up wheelarches, colour coded side skirts and twin exhausts neatly faired into the diffuser. Renault are promising a decent drive thanks to a double axis strut system front suspension, a lowered ride height and 25% stiffer rear suspension. The new front suspension, ESP and ASR traction control will eliminate torque steer we are told.
The Clio III is already light years ahead of the old model in terms of interior comfort and the 197 gains some sporty touches in the form of aluminium pedals, a fat, leather trimmed three-spoke steering wheel, a sportier looking instrument pack and a gearchange light incorporated into the rev-counter to warn when the 7,500rpm red line is approaching. The Renaultsport Clio 197 goes on sale in early summer and later in the year will face stiff competition from the new Honda Civic Type-R which will boast identical horsepower figures as well as the more powerful Ford Focus ST and Vauxhall VXR.
Please Proton, could we have this engine in the New SRM? the Waja already has the 1.8 version of the same renault engine and the BTCC Impian is using the same 2.0 version of the engine too. So it shouldnt be a big problem to put this 197hp 2.0 engine in the SRM does it? It should make a nice new version of the Satria GTi.
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