Renault is offering an interesting stepping-stone between their regular cars, and their special range of RS-badged models with their GT-Line variants. The fourth-generation Clio is the latest car to get the treatment, and it offers a lot for the UK market, which is packed with lovers of hot hatches.
However, some may prefer lower running, insurance and purchase costs, but still want a sportier than normal drive and unique styling, which is what the GT delivers.
Priced from £17,395 in the UK, the Clio GT-Line comes packing a 1.2-liter TCe 120 engine, with 118 hp and 140 lb-ft (190 Nm) of torque, all of which is sent to the road through its dual-clutch gearbox which it shares with the more powerful RS model. Still, it returns 54.3 mpg UK, which is better than the bigger brother’s 44.8 mpg UK claimed figure, so it should also be cheaper to tax (free in the first year, and £30 per year after that).
Sure its 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 9.9 seconds is nothing to write home about, but with the relatively high torque figure, paddle shifters and chassis which is 40 percent stiffer than the regular car’s, it should prove entertaining to drive. There’s even a button to choose one of two driving modes.
Styling has been tweaked too, and especially if the car is finished in the Malta Blue colour Renault advertises the car in, then I’d say it looks good, with its dual offset exhaust pipes completing the look nicely, along with the unique 17-inch alloys.
The car was also revealed as an estate, but the official press release doesn’t mention it – it may be made available at a later date with its afferent price hike.
By Andrei Nedelea
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