The all-new Clio RS 200 EDC is a very important car for Renault, and the French manufacturer is keen to point out the improvements over the previous generation car with an in-house test drive of its hot hatch. It is of course a biased review of the Clio, but since the first customer cars are set to be delivered in mid-March, this is all we have to go on until the car becomes available to the motoring press.
The Renault “reviewer” talks about how the new car is a more practical, economical and usable compared to the car it replaces. It is now bigger, has two more doors and its 1.6-liter turbocharged engine has more torque at low revs and some 20 percent more fuel-efficient than the outgoing model’s screaming naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter unit.
The car has also been fitted with an intake resonator, like the one found on the new Ford Focus ST, which amplifies engine noise, without making it overly-intrusive. In addition, if the owner opts for the optional R-Link touchscreen infotainment system, a wide assortment of engine noises can be chosen, and the sound will be piped through the car’s sound system – we say that’s a bit of a gimmick, which will most likely not be appreciated by hot hatch purists.
Following in the footsteps of the VW Polo GTI and the Skoda Fabia vRS, Renault has ditched the six-speed manual gearbox used in the old model, in favor of a modern dual-clutch setup with paddle shifters they call EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) – a manual version is not offered at all. This coupled with the engine’s flat torque curve should make the Clio a more relaxing car to drive when not in ‘hoon-mode’.
For the full detailed “review”, check out Renault’s video after the jump.
By Andrei Nedelea
VIDEO