Renault Releases World Series Special Edition Clio and Megane Models

This summer sees the launch of a new series of special edition Clio and Megane models named after Renault's World Series single-seater challenge. Due to make their public appearance at Silverstone track on the first weekend of July, the World Series Clio, Megane Hatch and Megane Coupe versions feature sportier body styling (but that's about it) with the French automaker claiming savings for the customer between £940 to £1,190 over the price of the additional items if they were ordered separately in the UK.

The Clio World Series by Renault is based on the Dynamique trim level adding a front spoiler, side skirts, a sports rear bumper plus WSR badging. It is available with two gasoline engines, a naturally aspirated 1.2-liter with 75HP and a 1.2-liter turbocharged four with 100HP, plus a 1.5-liter diesel producing 86HP, with prices starting from £12,170 on the road.

Priced from £16,595, the five-door Megane hatch version benefits from a front apron, Coupe-style bumper inserts, side skirts, a sports rear bumper, rear spoiler, WSR badging and 17-inch alloy wheels. Buyers can choose from the 1.6-liter petrol with 110HP or the 1.5-liter diesel making 106HP.

And finally, there's the Megane Coupe World Series by Renault which sports a front spoiler, side skirts, specific rear bumper and 17-inch alloy wheels. Priced from £16,995, it is offered with the same engines as the hatch model.

All three models are available for order in the UK from 1st July with deliveries starting from July 6th, 2009.

2009 Renault Clio RS and Clio RS Cup Priced from £15,750 in Britain

Renault has announced UK pricing for its facelifted Clio RS models that will go on sale in Britain on May 15 with first deliveries expected in June. The Clio Renaultsport (RS) Cup starts from £15,570 while the more luxurious Clio RS £16,570. Both versions of the Renault's hot hatch are powered by a punchy 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 200HP at 7,200 rpm. The Clio RS Cup is the more hardcore model of the two as it weighs 36kg or 80 pounds less than the standard RS while it also features a stiffer chassis. Read more about the 2009 Clio RS models here.

Facelifted Renaultsport Clio 200 & Clio 200 Cup

Along with the rest of the Clio range, Renault also launched the revised the RS (Renaultsport) model in Geneva. Highlights include a more powerful 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine that now delivers 200-horsepower, chassis modifications and of course, the cosmetic upgrades.

Like the rest of the range, the hot Clio gets a new fascia featuring Renaultsport's new styling identity cues such as the blacked out centre section of the front bumper, front splitter, and a subtly restyled rear end with new tail lights and a different rear diffuser.

The Clio Renaultsport 200 is powered by an upgraded version of the outgoing model's normally-aspirated 2.0 16V engine. Peak power has been increased by 3hp to 200HP at 7,100rpm and now produces its maximum torque of 215Nm at 5,400rpm (compared with 5,500rpm for Clio Renaultsport 197). The first, second and third gear ratios have all been shortened for punchier acceleration. The new Clio Renaultsport 200 accelerates from standstill to 100km/h or 62 mph in 6.9 seconds while top speed increases by 2mph to 141mph (227km/h).

Another benefit of powertrain upgrades is the fact that its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been slightly reduced to 34.5mpg UK in the combined cycle and 195g/km.

Renaultsport engineers also widened the front and rear tracks by 48mm and 50mm respectively while the wheelbase is extended by 10mm to 2,585mm for greater stability. Furthermore, the rear suspension features a stiffened programmed deflection torsion beam.

The new Clio Renaultsport is available in two guises, the basic 200 and the more hardcore 200 Cup which has a stiffer chassis and is 36kg lighter than the standard version.

New Renault Clio RS Facelift Scooped?

At next week's 2009 Geneva Motor Show, Renault will perform the public debut of the facelifted Clio range. Up until now, we've only seen a handful of official pictures of the new sporty Clio GT version that has been developed to close the gap between the standard models and the range-topping, Clio RS. However, a member of the French site 'Forum-Auto' uploaded a set of low-quality scoop photos that appear to show the facelifted Clio RS.

Along with the reshaped headlights and tail lamps of the standard Clio, the RenaultSport edition features a newly designed front bumper with a blacked out center section, dark finish alloy wheels and a restyled rear bumper. It remains to be seen if Renault has performed any mechanical updates. The current-generation Clio RS is powered by a 197-horsepower, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine.

Via: Forum-Auto

Renault Clio RS R3 Gains new Entry Level Rally Kit

Everybody knows that taking part in rallies isn’t a cheap sport. With that in mind, Renault decided to introduce a new entry-level version of its Renault Sport Clio R3 Maxi called Access that has been developed for customers wishing to compete in tarmac rallying. The Clio R3 Access shares many of the Maxi's basic features, including a full roll-cage incorporating, a six-speed sequential gearbox and limited slip differential as well as the steering rack and the Magneti-Marelli ECU which incorporates the data acquisition system. -Continued

Power comes from a slightly revised version of the road-going Clio Renaultsport 197’s 2.0-liter engine that develops peak power of 200HP and features a specific camshaft and exhaust manifold, while the flywheel is the same as that seen on the Maxi version.

The Clio Renault Sport R3 Access uses the same suspension of the standard car with strengthened struts and specific kinematics for the independent steering axis front suspension. The one-piece aluminium alloy 17-inch Speedline wheels and Michelin 19/62-17 tyres are identical to those of Clio Renaultsport R3 Maxi as is the Sabelt safety equipment

The Clio Renault Sport R3 Access kit, including all the specific parts to be fitted to the car, comes at a pre-tax price of €32,600 in France while according to Renault, the cost of competing is estimated to be €17 per kilometre.