Renault offers a glimmer of hope to those who believe the current Renault Clio RS is not as fun to drive as some of its competitors. Renault vice-president of product planning, Philippe Klein, said that a more hardcore version of the Clio RS might be built if there is demand for such a vehicle.
“There were some people who criticized the car early on and then when they drove it they changed their minds completely. That didn’t apply to everyone; some people still think it is perhaps a bit too easy to drive, not rough enough,” Klein told Auto Express magazine.
One aspect that was criticized by hardcore RenaultSport fans is that the current Clio RS doesn’t offer the option of a manual gearbox, being only available with a double-clutch transmission. In addition, the hot Renault has been outclassed in most comparison tests by the Ford Fiesta ST, widely seen as being more fun to drive.
In response to these critics, Klein admitted Renault might listen to customer requests and implement changes: “Ultimately we will listen to the customers. We can revise and change things as time goes on. We will redo the car through time, of course, and perhaps there will be some specific versions that will happen,” Klein said.
The senior executive also said one of Renault’s objectives when developing the new Clio RS was to broaden the car’s appeal, without forgetting those who prefer “a more radical approach.”
By Dan Mihalascu
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