Renault has vowed to reintroduce its performance-steeped Gordnini moniker on a pair of aggressive looking hot hatches. Here’s what one of them may look like…By Gareth Dean
For those of you scratching your heads at the mention of Gordini, the name refers to Amédée Gordini – the famed Italian racing driver whose expertise rubbed off on the Renault 8 Gordini 1300 and the iconic 1976 Renault 5 Alpine (née Gordini) Turbo, one of the first true hot hatches pre-dating the Mk 1 Golf GTI.
Renault has been making noises about reviving the Gordini name in 2010 with a modified series of hot hatch models currently wearing the company’s RenaultSport (RS) moniker, including the Twingo RS and Clio RS. Here, French automotive artist Thomas Clavet has attempted to convey how a Gordini rework would translate across to the Clio RS.
The sketches show a heavily revised nose section studded with enlarged air intakes, including intakes located below the headlamps. The vent-fest continues with a triangular carbon fibre air scoop on the roof and air vents in the rear wheel arches. The rear sports a carbon fibre roof spoiler and an aggressive evolution of the diffuser featured on the current Clio RS with a centrally-mounted triangular exhaust pipe similar to that of the Opel Astra OPC. In a nostalgic nod to Gordini-branded models of the past, the sketches also incorporate such signature touches as a pair of round secondary headlamps in the grille and blue paintwork with double white stripes running down the left side of the car.
The interior is a somewhat spartan affair with such touches as weight-saving polycarbonate glazed windows, roll bar and window net among the standard features.
Renault has not yet made any mention of whether the Gordini cars will mount modified RS powerplants, which makes Clavet’s copious air vent treatment somewhat questionable. Even if the powerplants remain unchanged, the Gordini car’s stripped down spec and extensive use of lightweight materials will make it a very handy track day tool.
According to Renault, the Gordini range will be positioned below the RenaultSport range. Customers will be offered an extensive array of optional extras to personalize their cars, but the signature paint job will be a standard fixture across the range.