Renault has unveiled a new concept car to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Sport arm and its return to Formula 1. The Clio R.S. 16 sees Renault's highest performing engine dropped into a Clio R.S., resulting in the the highest performance Renault Sport road car ever.
"Our aim was to produce a concept car with genuinely outstanding performance credentials," says managing director of Renault Sport Cars Patrice Ratti, who goes on to explain that, while producing a Clio R.S. powered by the firm's most powerful engine was an exciting prospect, the carmaker first had to check that it was actually feasible.
Fortunately it was, and the development of the Clio R.S. 16 took just five months. Renault puts this short development time down to new working procedures, which involved both motorsport and road car teams.
Based on a Clio R.S., the concept features the engine, transmission and cooling system of the Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy-R. The 2.0-l turbo engine produces 275 hp (205 kW) and 360 Nm (266 ft-lb) of torque.
The exhaust system was revised to accommodate the engine, with a Akrapovic twin exhaust system fitted and the car's suspension and cooling system tuned. In addition, the car sits on 19-in wheels and the body is 60-mm (2.4-in) wider than that of the Clio R.S.
Elsewhere, the yellow and black color scheme of the Clio R.S. 16 has been pulled over from the Renault F1 car. At the front, the F1 blade has been reworked and added, while an aerofoil has been brought in from the Clio Cup. Other rally car parts have also been used and others made from scratch.
The Clio R.S. 16 was unveiled on the Monaco Grand Prix street circuit today.
The video below provides an insight into the project.
Source: Renault
