New Clio RS Goes Mad

When you say hot-hatch, one of the first 3 cars that will come to mind will surely be a Clio, no matter whether 16V, Williams, RS with the engine in the back, or simply RS, the important thing is that it is not the last one, unfortunately weighed down and made awkward by an automatic transmission that does not live up to its predecessors. But Renault, indeed RenaultSport seems to have realized that something was wrong and so has presented a new one that, if it is put into production, could be the return of a Clio in big boys’ yard: the Clio RS 16. What’s new? First, its look is made more aggressive, thanks to more generous spoilers, new wheels and other small details, but what really matters is the mechanical transformation, with the acquisition of the same engine of the Megane RS, the 2.0cc with 275 horses and, finally, a 6-speed manual gearbox, which replaces the automatic, the only choice on the last model. Also great work for a soundtrack worthy of being called such, with an entirely new exhaust, but to be honest, chassis, suspension and brakes are pretty much the ones from its big sister. It matters little whether this Clio borrowed pants and shirt from the Megane RS, because finally it would return to let our hearts beat for the little French girl. Now we recognize it!