Renault has announced two new special edition hot hatches. The Renaultsport Twingo RS and Clio RS Silverstone GP editions are on sale in the UK, just 50 of each in fact, and were announced in the run up to the 2011 British Formula 1 event at the country’s premier race circuit.

Both the Twingo RS and Clio RS ‘Silverstone GP’ sit on a lowered Cup Chassis and feature silver metallic paint and contrasting ‘Deep Black’ details, including the 17-inch alloy wheels, as well as on the roof and door mirrors. Other features include extra-tinted rear windows and Silverstone GP B-pillar badges inscribed with the new grand prix circuit map. The Twingo also benefits from a matching ‘Deep Black’ rear spoiler and fog light surrounds, as well as a full stainless steel exhaust system.

Inside the cabin, both cars feature numbered interior plaque (1-50), Renaultsport Monitor on-board performance tracking system, as well as grey and black Renaultsport floor mats. The Clio also features Renaultsport Recaro front seats, Bluetooth and multi-functional TunePoint for portable music players. Both cars come with a free Renaultsport Experience at Silverstone.

Following last year’s launch of Renault Sport’s Twingo Gordini RS, Renault South Africa has expanded the Gordini range with the launch of the new Clio Gordini Renault Sport at the 2011 Knysna Hillclimb, sponsored by Renault.

Clio Gordini is to Renault, as John Cooper Works is to Mini and DS3 is to Citroen, that is, a fast hot hatch with an added dash of style and exclusivity. ”The Clio Gordini Renault Sport combines the award-winning credentials of the Clio Renault Sport with the proud heritage of the Gordini name to produce a truly segment-defining hot hatch,” says Xavier Gobille, managing director of Renault South Africa. “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.”

Amédée Gordini established the Gordini company that transformed production cars into racers, modified regular engines for competition in endurance and grand prix racing, and even built specialist racing cars under his own banner. In 1956 Renault approached ‘The Sorcerer’, as he was commonly known, to develop its rear-engined Dauphine sedan into a competitive rally car and the rest, as they say, is history. Eventually the Gordini company was merged into Renault and it became the foundation for Renault Sport Technologies (RS), which has gone on to produce the impressive RS versions of the Clio, Mégane and Twingo over the years. It’s fitting, then, that Renault pays homage to Amédée Gordini and the legendary cars that he spurred the development of.

In the case of the new Renault Clio Gordini Renault Sport, the hatch retains all the virtues that make it our favorite hot hatch of the moment, but adds the eye-catching and unique Gordini styling. Easliy identifiable from the standard or Clio RS ’20th’ Special Edition models, the Clio Gordini wears exclusive Malta Blue paint, together with twin white stripes that extend from the bonnet, over the roof to the tailgate – paying tribute to the racing Gordinis of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Further styling enhancements include white exterior mirror housings and F1-style aerodynamic front splitter, diamond-effect 12-spoke aluminium alloy wheels, as well as ‘Gordini Series’ badges on each flank.

The Gordini spirit continues in the cabin too, with Gordini-badged Renault Sport seats, trimmed in black leather with blue accents along the lower and upper side bolsters. The top section of the leather-trimmed three-spoke sports steering wheel is finished in blue leather, with two white stripes to indicate the straight-ahead position. Similarly, the gear lever features a blue leather gaiter and a metallic Gordini-branded gear knob, bolstered by a numbered Gordini plaque on the gearlever console, carpet mats with blue edging and Gordini branding.

The instrumentation echoes this performance hatchback’s racing disposition, including a rev counter dial with white background, as well as the on-board Renault Sport Telemetry Display that made its debut on the Mégane RS Cup. The system provides the driver with real-time performance and vehicle data, as well as several options to tailor the throttle and engine response.

As mentioned, the Renault Clio Gordini RS retains the virtues of the standard Clio RS, meaning a superb chassis and suspension system, matched to a potent, high-revving naturally aspirated engine. The Clio Gordini RS features the sportier Cup chassis as standard, which offers a firmer and more focused set-up, providing an even more exhilarating driving experience than the standard car. An independent steering axis front suspension ensures precise steering and together with low-profile 215/45 R17 tyres, endows the hatch with serious levels of grip. Stopping power comes courtesy of Brembo four-piston callipers that bite into ventilated 312 mm front discs and 300 mm solid discs at the rear. ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution is standard. The Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) can be turned off for spirited driving, such as at the Knysna Hillclimb where media raced the cars up the 1.9 kilometer course.

At the heart of the Clio Renault Sport is a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine that develops 147.5 kW, or a class-leading 75 kW per litre. The engine pulls strongly all the way to the 7 500 r/min redline, although peak power is achieved at 7 100 r/min. Torque of 215 Nm is available at 5 400 r/min, but as media found out after the first few smokey starts at the Knysna Hillclimb, the Clio Gordini is plenty quick off the mark without the tacho needle pointing skywards. Once on the move, the slick-shifting six-speed manual gearbox is one of the most satisfying to use and plays an important role in the Clio’s 0 – 100 km/h sprint of 6.9 seconds.

As the range-topping variant in the Clio Renault Sport range, the Gordini boasts a premium level of standard features, including a rain sensor and automatic headlight activation, dedicated cornering lights and electrically folding exterior mirrors. Other convenience features include cruise control with speed limiter, Renault’s hands-free key and ignition card, automatic climate control and dark-tinted rear windows. On the audio front, the Gordini Renault Sport is equipped with an 80-watt CD receiver with MP3 playback, a separate dashboard-mounted display and steering wheel controls, as well as Bluetooth and multimedia connectivity with USB and iPod connections.

Whether you have penchant for hot hatches, historic racing heritage and stand-out styling, or even if you don’t, the new Renault Clio Gordini Renault Sport is a car that will never fail to involve its driver from the moment the brilliant, naturally aspirated, 2.0-litre engine fires into life. In fact, we feel like getting our hands on a set of keys and driving one right now!

The Renault Clio Gordini Renault Sport is priced at R279 900 and includes a 5-year/150 000 km warranty and 3-year/60 000 km service plan.

Renault South Africa has introduced the spirited Twingo Gordini Renault Sport (RS) – a car that revives one of the most legendary names in motorsport.

Amédée Gordini was born in Bazzano near Bologna, Italy, in 1899. From an early age he had a strong fascination with cars and motor racing, and began living his dream by working as a mechanic in his teens. After World War I he settled in Paris and competed in various forms of motorsport, including grand prix racing and the legendary Le Mans 24-hour.

He later established the Gordini company that transformed production cars into racers, modified regular engines for competition in endurance and grand prix racing, and even built specialist racing cars under his own banner.

In 1956 Renault approached ‘The Sorcerer’, as he was commonly known, to develop its rear-engined Dauphine sedan into a competitive rally car. And the rest, as they say, is history. In 1964 the Renault 8 Gordini, with its bright blue paintwork and twin white stripes, was one of his most successful and iconic creations, finishing 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th in the Tour of Corsica rally. In 1966, the 1300 cc version starred in the first Gordini Cup one-make race series, which would become the blueprint for all single-make motorsport championships.

Eventually the Gordini company was merged into Renault, and it became the foundation for Renault Sport Technologies – a division which has produced the impressive and prized Renault Sport (RS) versions of the Clio, Mégane and Twingo over the years.

It’s fitting, then, that Renault pays homage to Amédée Gordini and the legendary cars that proudly carried his name.

In true Gordini tradition, the Twingo Gordini RS features gleaming Malte Blue lacquered metallic paint. This classic hue is made all the more attention-grabbing with the addition of two white racing stripes extending from the bonnet, over the roof to the tailgate like a badge of honour.

The front and rear bumpers feature a gloss-black finish, while the foglamp surrounds, exterior mirror housings and lip spoiler are all coloured in a contrasting white for an even sportier appearance. An exclusive set of double-spoke 17-inch aluminium alloy wheels – up from the 16-inch versions on the Twingo RS) – are matched with lower profile 195/40 R17 tyres that assert this Twingo’s potential. ‘Gordini Series’ badging is also present just aft of the doors, which provides an appropriate salute to the heyday of the Gordini Cup one-make racing series.

The interior has also been given a dose of Gordini spirit, thanks to the redesigned Renault Sport seats with extra lateral support, plus two-tone blue-and-black quilted, and Gordini-badged, leather upholstery. Matching the seats are blue leather door panel inserts, and blue-and-black leather steering wheel with white stripes on top to indicate the centre point in true motorsport tradition. In addition, a blue gearlever, Gordini-badged gear knob, blue rev counter with white surround and a trimmed dashboard cowl with visible stitching, serve to honour the Gordini name. Optional features such as a panoramic opening sunroof, a carpet set embroidered with the distinctive Gordini motif, and a special Gordini key cover are also available.

Performance remains unchanged, with a 1,6-litre 16-valve fuel-injected engine delivering 98 kW at 6 750 r/min and 160 Nm at 4 400 r/min. CO2 emissions are 160 g/km, while combined cycle fuel consumption is rated at 7,0 l/100 km. Renault promise greater handling prowess with the larger 17-inch diameter wheels are their lower 40-profile rubber.

Safety has been taken up a notch with the addition of curtain airbags as standard (over and above the driver, passenger and side airbags), while the driver-oriented focus of the car means the electronic stability programme (ESP) that can be fully disengaged if desired.

Despite the exclusive nature of the Twingo Gordini RS and higher specification levels, the Twingo Gordini RS commands just a R15 000 price premium, or 7.5 percent, over the standard RS model, at R214 900. The price also includes a 3-year/60 000 km service plan and Renault’s 5-year/150 000 km warranty.

Hot hatches in South Africa have a huge following. One only has to look at the front page of your favourite performance magazine or website (yeah, we know – thanks for your support) to find stories of ST’s, GTI’s, OPC’s, R26′s battling it out on dyno’s, the quarter mile, or for fastest lap times. SA’s production car championship also reflects this healthy rivalry, with nearly every hot hatch manufacturer present in the running for top honours on our local circuits. There is, however, another class of hatch, not quite as powerful, not quite as large and not quite as well known, but arguably no less fun to drive and one that shares in the hot hatch gene pool. We’re talking about hot supermini’s. Toyota has one in the form of their Yaris TS but the one we’re thinking of is the Renault Twingo RS.

Interior
Although half the size of the the Mégane RS, the Twingo RS is not lacking in focus (no pun intended). The RS badge brings with it a set of body hugging sports seats, which are some of the best we’ve sampled and could easily rival those fitted to more expensive sports saloons. A 3-spoke leather steering wheel, aluminium foot pedals, gear knob and handbrake contribute to the sporty feel of the baby RS. The gear knob fits reassuringly in your hand and the cold metal relays a sense of pure sports car. There’s no shift pattern printed on top either – it’s as though the Twingo RS is saying “I’m not providing you with a shift pattern, real drivers know what they’re doing.”

Apart from the sporty accents to these function elements, there’s not much going on inside the Twingo RS. The centre console is easy to reach, and the layout and function of the radio and climate controls is ergonomic and typically Renault. The Twingo RS also features electrically operated windows and adjustable side mirrors – which are heated – power assisted steering, satellite controls on the steering wheel for the Radio/CD/MP3 sound system and cruise control. The air-conditioning works well to keep you cool behind the wheel.

The somewhat sparse looking nature of the interior is not a bad thing though, because like all Renault Sport cars, the focus is on driving.

Where the Twingo RS does compromise however, is with its carrying capacity. With four adults onboard the Twingo offers a surprising amount of legroom even in the back, but at the same time offers hardly any luggage capacity with just 165 litres. If you’re travelling without company and need some extra luggage space, the rear seats slide forward independently, which increases cargo capacity to a more useful 285 litres.

It goes without saying that Renault would kit out their baby RS with all the safety gizmo’s at their disposal. As such, the list of safety features goes as follows: driver, passenger and front side airbags; anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD); electronic stability program (ESP) and traction control; brake assist; alarm and ISOFIX attachment points for child safety seats.

Exterior
The Twingo RS has been given muscle in the looks department and is even available with chequered flag tattoos if you opt for them. With all-new colour coded bumpers, flared front and rear fenders – that house the unique 16-inch alloy wheels – sculpted side skirts, tinted windows and new rear spoiler, the baby RS is not shy and maintains a purposeful stance. At the same time, it’s a car which can’t be taken too seriously, with its big bug-eyes, oversized front fog-light surrounds and chopped off rear end, the Twingo RS is like a killer Pokémon – cute and cuddly but with a dark side.

The Twingo RS is like a killer Pokémon - cute and cuddly but with a dark side.

The Drive
It’s in driving the Twingo RS that the ‘dark side’ comes out. Renault Sport have given as much attention to their Twingo as any other RS badged model. The flared arches are not simply an effort to ‘puff up’ the smallest RS – no – in fact they are necessary to accommodate the changes to the front and rear tracks, which have been widened by 60 mm and 59 mm respectively. Stiffer suspension – lowered by 10 mm over the standard model – and Continental Sport Contact 195/45/16 sized tyres, aid in providing improved stability and grip, with taut, direct response. Together with the recalibrated power steering, the Twingo RS handles twists and turns tenaciously, while providing accurate instruction to the front wheels that inspires confidence at all times. Ensuring that the stopping power matches the Twingo RS’s performance is an uprated braking system that links 280 mm vented disc brakes in front to 240 mm solid discs at the rear. The gearbox adds to the fun with a relatively short throw between gears and accurate gates. The clutch is well weighted and although not as light as one might expect, it provides a solid feel that compliments the sporty feel of the car. Around town the Twingo’s diminutive size makes it a cinch to park or manoeuvre through rush hour traffic. With the focussed suspension and steering mated to the Renault Sport tuned 1,6-litre engine, the Twingo RS is a joy to drive and makes you want to do a u-turn and have another go at the road you’ve just conquered. The aluminium pedals – with their pause, stop and play emblems – are ideally placed for heel-toe footwork, which rounds off an absorbing driving experience.

Performance
The engine that motivates the little RS with such intent is a 1,6-litre 16-valve DOHC unit, that produces 98 kW at 6 750 rpm. For its role in the Twingo RS, the engine gets a new throttle valve unit, revised camshafts to increase valve opening and lift, and a higher, 11,0:1 compression ratio. As you can imagine from the figures, it loves to rev and the sound from the naturally aspirated 16-valve is part of this car’s appeal. The engine revs freely all the way to the redline, building power as it goes and leaving a sweet exhaust note in its wake.

The down side to the rev happy nature though, is the relative lack of torque. With just 160 N.m available at 4 400 rpm, the Twingo RS needs to build revs before it gets a move on. Around town, and at slower speeds, you invariably find yourself reaching for the gear stick to drop a cog in order to catch a gap in the adjacent lane. But that doesn’t really matter because the Twingo RS demands to be driven hard and the engine sings in celebration.

If you want an unassuming car to fetch the kids from school, or meet your mates down at the pub, then buy the 1.2 Dynamique version. If, however, you want to be exiting the school car park before other mums have even finished parallel parking their SUV’s, or have your mates in their 1,6 Polo’s and Fiesta’s eating your dust on the way to the pub, then you want a Twingo RS.

In fact, forget all that because if you want a taste of the hot hatch experience, with driving dynamics to rival them, then for the money there’s really not much else.

What we like…

• Authentic Renault Sport driving dynamics and driving experience.
• Excellent sports seats.
• Free advanced driver training course with Renault Driving Academy

What we would like…

• About 20 N.m more torque from the already gutsy engine.
• A temperature gauge for the engine on the instrument panel – for the odd track day at least.
• A reach adjustable steering wheel.

Renaultsport has been chosen as Top Gear magazine’s Manufacturer of the Year.

A vintage year for the performance subsidiary of Renault, 2009 has seen the introduction of the new pocket rocket Twingo Renaultsport 133 Cup, the new Clio Renaultsport 200 and the imminent arrival on UK shores of the stunning Mégane Renaultsport 250.

Conor McNicholas, Editor of Top Gear, said, “Renaultsport has been impressing us for years but 2009 was the year where the whole project hit a new sweet spot – Twingo, Clio and Mégane all out in hot form and all of them at their best ever. For services to hot hatches, we salute you.”

Now in its 10th year, the Top Gear awards are a global recognition by the TV, magazine and online teams of the best from the last 12 months of the motoring world.

Remi Deconinck, Managing Director of Renault Sport Technologies, said, “The whole team at Renaultsport are honoured to receive this award. We like to think that Renaultsport and Top Gear share some fundamental values: accessible, enthusiastic and professional and with a well-developed sense of fun. Above all, we share a passion for cars and driving.”

The Gordini badge is back! These are the first official pictures of the Twingo Gordini Renaultsport, a very special edition that draws on Renault’s rich motorsport heritage. In a tribute to the highly successful Gordini racing cars from the fifties and sixties, the hot-hatch is finished in Malta Blue with two off-centre white racing stripes running from the bonnet to the boot lid.

The front and rear bumpers include gloss black sections, while the fog lamp surrounds, wing mirrors and rear tailgate spoiler are also marked out in alpine white. Badges reading ‘Gordini Series’ adorn the left and right flanks of the car and the flamboyant exterior is finished off with polished 17-inch alloys, with the inner rim painted in a choice of blue or black.

And the colour scheme continues on the inside too with scuplted sports seats covered in quilted leather and embossed with the Gordini logo in blue and black. The leather steering wheel receives two white stripes to indicate the centre point, while a blue rev-counter and Gordini badged gearlever complete the luxurious cabin.

Beneath the cosmetic changes, the mechanicals are identical to the Twingo Renaultsport. That means it uses the same rev-hungry 98 kW 1,6-litre engine and the softer ‘Sport’ chassis comes as standard, although the stiffer ‘Cup’ suspension can be ordered as an option.

To create a buzz before it goes on sale the car is currently on display, until 10 January, at Renault’s most prestigious showroom on the Champs-Elysées in Paris. Prices will be announced closer to the car’s on sale date in March next year.

Adapted from AutoExpress

This special creation from French custom car and motorcycle builder, Lazareth, is one heck of a creation. Evidently inspired by the competition Renault Megane Trophy and the Clio V6 Renault Sport, the Twingo Trophy is one of those cars that you’d be tempted to take for a spin even though it doesn’t make much sense.

The French tuner took a first-generation Twingo supermini and turned it into a pocket-rocket by throwing out the tiny, front-mounted standard engine and installing a Range-Rover-sourced 3,5-litre V8 with 134 kWbehind the front seats. Power is transferred to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Of course, transforming a city car into a mid-engined sports car isn’t that simple. Lazareth had to modify the Twingo’s chassis by adding a rear tubular subframe, replacing the suspension and brakes, as well as widening the front and rear tracks, just to mention a few of the changes. It also rides on 18-inch Toora alloy wheels wrapped in Yokohama slick tyres, with sizes of 230 up front and 320 at the back.

Other highlights include the matte gray exterior paint finish and the ‘sported-up’ interior that boasts a pair of MOMO bucket seats, sport steering wheel and new digital gauges. And the price for all this? Well, according to Lazareth’s site, the Twingo Trophy V8 could be yours for EUR70 000 or about R800 000. Who said that big boys’ toys are cheap?!

Erectile Dysfunction

Adapted from CarScoop

Renault’s up for the Cup! The French firm has announced details of a stripped-out model of their Twingo RS.

Engineers have ditched the air-conditioning, sliding rear bench and the auto headlights and wipers to ensure the all-new Twingo RS Cup is as light as possible. Although no weight-loss figure has been confirmed, expect the Cup to be around 30 kg lighter than the RS. In addition, a few pennies have been shaved off the price – so UK buyers can drive off in their new car for GBP11 795.

For the money, you benefit from the Cup lowered suspension pack, tuned dampers and 17-inch alloy wheels with an Anthracite finish. The 98 kW 1,6-litre engine is unchanged, so 0 – 100 km/h still takes 8.7 seconds and it hits 200 km/h. European buyers can place their orders now, however we doubt our local demand will be enough to persuade Renault to offer the little fire-cracker here.

Via AutoExpress