Renault's Pocket Rocket Range Boosted

Boy racers and fans of hot hatches everywhere will be stoked to hear that Renault Australia has released two new variants of its Renault Clio Sport, as well as the turbocharged Renault Sport Mégane 225.

First up are the new baby Renault's, which comprise the Sport Clio 182 and Sport Clio 182 Cup, where the latter model offers a firmer suspension set-up and lowered ride height for an extra $1500.

The only external differentiation between the regular Renault Sport Clio 182 and Cup are the charcoal-coloured alloy wheels, which are now 16-inch (with 205/45 aspect ratio tyres), up from 15-inchers.

Renault is selling the new range-topping Sport Clio and Sport Clio Cup for $32,990 and $34,490 respectively.

According to Renault Australia's managing director, Rudi Koenig, the Renault Sport Clio 182 is not only a much more dynamic and enjoyable car to drive but is even better value than ever: "The Renault Sport Clio 182 will appeal to enthusiasts who demand a highly responsive and entertaining driving experience," Mr Koenig said.

"And now, with the option of the Renault Sport Clio 182 Cup we have a car to satisfy the most demanding motor sport enthusiasts."

Thanks to the revisions to the engine, the new Renault Sport Clio 182 range produces 131kW of power @ 6500rpm – an increase of 7 kilowatts – and maximum torque of 200Nm is produced at 5250rpm.

The 16-valve, 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder engine is a revvy little blighter, and combined with the Clio's short wheelbase, minimal overhangs and bantam kerb weight, provides for a very nimble handling package, with a lot more urge than the 131kW of power would suggest: the 0-100km/h sprint takes 7.1 seconds.

Changes to the suspension, steering and increases to the front and rear track width have improved the handling and ride comfort of the Renault Sport Clio 182.

Feann Torr reviewed the 124kW version of the 2003 model Renault Sport Clio and gave it a top billing, so it's a fair bet to say that the new model will offer even more pint-sized excitement.

Cruise control with a speed limiter function is now standard on the vehicle and allows the driver to maintain a constant cruising speed or to program a maximum speed, a feature that was sorely missing on the previous model.

Exterior changes to the Renault Sport Clio 182 are subtle but help reinforce the sporting intent of this popular compact performance hatch, where the most distinctive of the exterior changes are the twin chromed exhaust pipes and larger 16-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the safety belts have grey-coloured facings to match the underlayer of the perforated alcantara upholstery, and the sporting and technical signature of Renault Sport Clio 182 is seen in the leather steering wheel, the instruments with their chromed bezels, aluminium pedals, and the door sill kickplates (scuff plates) with their Renault Sport badges.

The Renault Sport Clio 182s have a long list of standard specifications including aluminium drilled pedals, six-speaker AM/FM stereo with in-dash CD, climate controlled air-conditioning, automatic xenon headlights and rain-sensing front wipers.

Both models come equipped with ABS braking with EBD electronic brake distribution control, ESP electronic stability control, adaptive driver and front passenger front SRS airbags, driver and front passenger side SRS airbags, front and outboard rear seat belt pretensioners with load limiters, front and rear anti-roll bars and anti-intrusion bars fitted as standard.

If you have an interest in pocket rockets, hot hatches, or are just keen to see how the French approach high powered small cars, give one of the new, beefed up Sport Clio 182s a go. They've always been one of the best value pocket rockets on offer, and the new revisions bode well for the Clios continued support.

The second car in Renault's revitalised 'Sport' range of stove-hot hatches is the Sport Mégane 225, powered by a high boost turbo 4-cylinder engine.

The '225' refers to the number of ponies trapped under the bonnet, and translates to a formidable 165 kilowatts of power - enough to give the popular WRX a good race from the traffic lights.

It's also priced very closely to the Subaru Impreza WRX, with a $42,990 sticker price.

Distinctive styling cues ensure the Mégane Sport stands out from the crowd too, as from the front, the lines of the donor car have been enhanced by a wide air intake grille and integrated front foglamps.

The rear bumper is cut away around the central twin-pipe exhaust outlet and a spoiler integrated with the upper part of the rear hatch is claimed to improve aerodynamic characteristics and increases stability at high speed.

Big fat 17-inch alloy wheels fill the wheel arches at each corner of the car, shod with 225/45 rubber, which further strengthens the robust character of the high torque sports hatch.

Inside, the interior styling reflects the exterior design. The idea of "sporty driving" is expressed through the leather steering wheel, the aluminium pedal and the graphic treatment of the instrument dials.

The Mégane Sport is available in one configuration only (5-door hatch) and is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine matched to a six-speed manual gearbox.

The 2.0-litre turbo engine was jointly developed by Renault Sport Technologies and Renault's Powertrain Engineering Department to create a high-performance unit which is also suitable for daily use.

It outputs 165kW @ 5500rpm and 300Nm of torque @ 3000rpm, providing for a wide powerband.

This idea of flexibility across the rev-range is evidenced by the fact that a good deal of the engine's maximum torque (about 90%) is available between 2000 and 6000rpm.

The high power and torque outputs were the result of several changes and optimisations carried out on the pistons, the crankshaft and twin scroll type turbocharger. This latter benefits from a special turbine and compressor to improve cylinder filling and reduce response time.

Fuel injectors are matched to the greater airflow provided by the turbo and the engine is also equipped with a specially developed management computer to optimise ease of operation, and a 60mm diameter exhaust pipe reduces back-pressure and creates a "sporty exhaust note" in the Renault vernacular. Translation: muted until you reach 6000rpm.

A low-inertia twin mass damping flywheel minimises vibration of the gearbox by the crankshaft, whilst improving acoustic performance without penalising pick-up response.

The Mégane Sport engine drives through the six-speed manual gearbox first seen in Mégane II. This Nissan-developed unit is setup with special gear ratios to improve response in each of the intermediate gears, while fuel consumption and noise levels in highway driving are reduced. All told, this powertrain allows the Mégane Sport to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds, which while still not quite WRX-quick, is still plenty fast.

This sports version of the Mégane II program carries over all the comfort and safety features of the Mégane II, whose hatch version was voted “European Car of the Year 2003”. The Renault Sport Mégane 225 is built in the Dieppe factory, which is dedicated to the manufacture of the brand's sporting cars.

An innovative front suspension, double axis strut system featuring an independent steering axis ensures precision of steering and handling and large diameter disc brakes (with 4-pot calipers) are expected to offer fairly fade free performance. For additional assurance, particularly in the wet, the Mégane Sport is fitted with the latest-generation Bosch 8.0 ABS with EBD and brake assist.

Like the entire Mégane II range, the Mégane Sport benefits from innovative and superior equipment levels. The cruise control/speed limiter, 6-speaker CD audio system with handy satellite radio controls, climate control air-conditioning, electrochromic interior mirror, automatic operation of the headlamps as well as the automatic variation of wiper speed form part of the standard kit.

An optional LX pack is available, adding a sunroof, six CD stacker and full leather trim. The Renault Sport Mégane 225 is priced at $42,990 while the LX pack is available for an additional $4000.

The Dieppe factory is responsible for the assembly of the Renault Sport Mégane 225, taking body shells from Renault’s production facility at Palencia in Spain. As with the Clio 2.0 16V and V6, the Mégane Sport benefits from the experience and know-how of a site dedicated to the manufacture of the group's sporting cars.

Renault Australia's big chief, Rudi Koenig, repeated the sporty line once again, saying the Renault Sport Mégane 225 offers buyers a stylish and practical performance vehicle: "The Mégane Sport is a welcome addition to the Renault Sport range we are creating here in Australia. Our aim is to develop the Renault Sport name and to show buyers a more passionate side of the brand," Mr Koenig said.

"The arrival of the new Mégane Renault Sport, together with the new Clio Renault Sport gives buyers two first class vehicles to choose from."