Hardcore Clio packs 217bhp and costs £21,780, while regular Renaultsport Clio 200 gets more torque, lower CO2
Renault has unveiled a faster, more powerful, better-handling version of its Renaultsport Clio called the 220 Trophy.
The car, is a specially ‘numbered’ hardcore edition designed to sit above existing Renaultsport Clios and counter disappointment among some enthusiasts with the existing model - although it stops short of delivering the manual gearbox that has been suggested by some Renault insiders. It will make its UK debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and the first deliveries should arrive in August. The 220 Trophy will cost £21,780 - a premium of just over £2500 over the basic Renaultsport Clio 200.
The 220 Trophy’s 1.6-litre turbo engine has been tweaked to produce 10% more power (217bhp) and the rev limit is raised from 5600 to 6800rpm. There’s a larger turbocharger and the air intake and exhausts have been revised to meet the latest Euro 6 clean-air standards as well as delivering extra performance. The CO2 output drops 6g/km from the old Clio 200's figure, to 138g/km (one VED band).
Torque rises 8% to 192lb ft and there is an extra ‘torque boost’ feature that delivers a further 8% of torque when in fourth and fifth gears.
Renault has moved to counter criticism of the Clio 200’s dual-clutch paddle-shift transmission by cutting shift times by 50% and reducing paddle travel by 30% to improve gearchange feel. In the most focused of the car's modes, Race, the gearbox can perform multiple downshifts when the paddle is held and it will not kick down or shift up at the limiter without intervention by the driver.
The Trophy’s chassis is lowered lower by 20mm at the front and 10mm at the rear. Springs, shock absorbers and bump-stops are all re-rated for high performance use. There’s a new, faster steering rack and a change to Michelin Pilot Super Sport 205/40 R18 tyres. The result is a car that cuts three seconds from a typical 1min 40sec lap on Renault’s secret test track.
The performance mods are accompanied by some subtle badge changes, plus new-design diamond-cut alloys and the option of a matt white paint scheme.
At the same time, the regular Renaultsport Clio 200 gets engine tweaks that bring its torque up to the same level as the 220's but lower CO2 emissions from 144g/km to 133g/km. That brings the Clio 200 down two company car tax bands.
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