With the success Renault has achieved in the sporting field and its ability to produce the finest and fastest hot hatches, the firm has celebrated its performance heritage with the launch of the Clio RS Gordini and GT Line sports pack for Mégane models.
Following similar treatment of the Twingo RS that was bumped up to Gordini spec late last year, the bigger Clio RS has also earned its stripes (excuse the pun) and the right to don the Gordini badge. The revival of the Gordini brand honours the success founder Amédée Gordini had with tuning mass-produced cars into race-winning machines for Renault in the late ’50s.
“The Clio Gordini Renaultsport combines the award-winning credentials of the Clio RS with the proud heritage of the Gordini name to produce a truly segment-defining hot hatch. Accordingly, it will appeal to a growing number of drivers seeking an exclusive yet affordable performance car with a distinctive character and a race-inspired legacy to match,” says Xavier Gobille, managing director of Renault South Africa.
The right ingredients
The Clio Gordini utilises the same combination that makes the Clio RS such a scintillating drive – the normally aspirated 2,0-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 148 kW at 7 100 r/min and 215 N.m of torque at 5 400 r/min and a close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox – but with the addition of a Cup chassis for even surer-footed handling prowess.
But what really sets the Gordini models apart is the dramatic exterior finish. The paint colour, “Malta Blue”, is combined with white racing stripes along the bonnet, over the roof and down onto the tailgate – a nod to the similar styling treatment Renault8 Gordinis were famous for in their racing heyday.
Befitting the dramatic exterior finish and range-topping status, the Clio Gordini comes standard with all the bells and whistles, such as rain and light-sensitive headlamps, cornering lights, electrically folding exterior mirrors, cruise control with speed limiter, Renault’s hands-free key and ignition card, radio/CD player with MP3 compatibility and Bluetooth connectivity, automatic climate control and dark-tinted rear windows.
But wait, there’s more
Both the Twingo and Clio Gordinis are both in the Gordini tradition of optimising the company’s small cars, but for those who desire the sporting credentials and street credibility of Renault’s hottest RS – whose budgets come just short – Renault has also launched the Mégane GT Line sports pack.
This newcomer bridges the gap between entry-level Méganes and the range-topping Mégane RS by way of bold styling and sporting thouches that hint at RenaultSport Technologies’ (RST) involvement in making the 1,4 TCe Mégane a bit more exciting.
Dressed to thrill
Externally, the Mégane RS makes use of a redesigned bumper that mimics the unit used on an RS, anthracite finish recesses for the fog lamps, anthracite-coloured 17-inch alloy wheels and contrasting rear diffuser panel. Inside, the GT Line continues the sporty theme with a analogue speedometer centrally-mounted in the instrument panel and flanked by a white tachometer and multipurpose information screen. There’s also ‘GT Line’ badging on the facia, head restraints and front door sills.
Because the 1,4-litre turbocharged engine is standard – producing 96 kW at 5 500 r/min and 190 N.m from 2 250 r/min – RST had to work on other areas of the car to make it more exciting. This is why the Mégane GT Line comes with the “Sport” chassis of the Mégane Coupe, but revised to ride 12 mm lower with stiffer springs and dampers all-round.
The Mégane GT Line also comes with the highest level of standard equipment, such as dual-zone climate control, Arkamys 3D sound system, six airbags, dual safety belt pre-tensioners with load limiters and a TomTom navigation system that uses an integrated sim card which links to live satellite updates, feeds and real-time traffic information.
Clio Gordini Renault Sport R279 900
(Price includes three-year/60 000 km service plan and five-year/150 000 km warranty.)
Mégane GT Line Hatch R249 900
Mégane GT Line Coupé R259 900
(Price includes a five-year/150 000 km mechanical warranty, a five-year/100 000 km service plan and six-year anti-corrosion warranty.)