Renault Clio 200 long wait

Renault Australia marketing manager Craig Smith doesn't expect to see the Clio Renaultsport 200 and Renaultsport 200 Cup until at least early 2010.

That's despite the pair of hot hatches opening up battling in the UK last week with June deliveries.

"We have some existing 197s available plus we have 40 of the R27 version which are going to dealers this week.

"So we'll watch the sales of these and then make a decision about importing the 200."

The Renaultsport models are part of the new-look Clio line-up that starts with the three-door Extreme.

Well upmarket from the oddly-named base model Extreme, the two Renaultsports get more aggressive styling with F1-style frontal aerodynamics, new alloy wheels and rear diffuser.

The chassis also gets a new front suspension design with revised suspension and steering settings.

All this is moved by a more powerful engine.

Renault claims improved low-down torque, economy and emissions and the best power-to-weight ratio in its class at 124kW per tonne.

The 2-litre normally-aspirated engine has 150kW of power — up by 2.2kW compared with the 197 — at 7100rpm. The low-end — below 3000rpm — torque is up by 20 per cent over the 197 thanks to a new cylinder head and fine-tuning of the engine mapping.

The first, second and third gear ratios have all been shortened for punchier acceleration.

This engine drives through a manual six-speed gearbox (TL4) and claims maximum torque of 215Nm at 5400rpm (compared with 5500rpm for Clio Renaultsport 197).

Clio Renaultsport accelerates from standstill to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds.

Clio Renaultsport 200's aerodynamics include a new frontal blade, front-wing air-extractors and a rear air diffuser — a development that Renault claims is unique for this segment.

The air diffuser works by receiving the air from the flat underbody and then accelerating the air speed as it leaves the vehicle's surface.

Combined with the shape of the diffuser it creates a zone of depression under the car to suck the chassis to the ground.

Renault says that unlike a rear wing, diffusers generate significant downforce without resisting forward movement.

"On a track, at 130km/h, lift is reduced by almost 40kg," Renault says.

In response to customer demand, the suspension settings for both the standard car and the hard core, Cup set-up have been revised.

The standard 200 chassis gets more comfort over its 197 predecessor because of new damper settings that are 15 per cent softer, and the use of hydraulic double-effect dampers.

The front roll bar is up to 21mm diameter from 20mm and Renault has chosen specifically-developed Continental Sport Contact 3 tyres at 215/45R17 for more precise steering response.

The new alloy wheels are 1kg lighter which also improves steering response.

Compared with the standard Clio, the Cup version gets uprated dampers that are 15 per cent stiffer; stiffer springs (uprated 27 per cent at the front and 30 per cent at the rear); a 7mm lower ride height; an improvement in torsional rigidity by 10 per cent; and a higher-ratio steering rack (7.5 per cent quicker).

The Clio Renaultsport 200 Cup weighs 1204kg which equates to 124kW per tonne.