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

The hot-hatch market has been very busy of late. There’s been an onslaught of affordable firecrackers in 2009 so far, and one of the modern-day greats is about to be reborn.

Meet the Renaultsport Mégane 250. It’s the first RS version of the third-generation Focus-rival, and unlike the outgoing car it is solely based around the Mégane Coupe, with no five-door version on the cards.

It uses the 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine from the previous hot Mégane (and, indeed, the Mégane R26.R) with power and torque hiked to 184kW and 349Nm, aiming the Renault directly at the Volkswagen Scirocco R as well as the SEAT Leon Cupra, Audi S3 and, inevitably, the headline-grabbing Ford Focus RS.

While the latter is over 37kW better off, it is a chunkier piece of kit, with the latest Mégane set to weigh broadly the same as its 1345kg predecessor.

There’ll be two versions from launch, the Sport and Cup. The latter is more up our street, with the mechanical limited-slip diff from the Mégane R26, stiffer springs and dampers and grooved brake discs. As yet, there are no plans for a diesel version.

The overwhelming press acclaim for the hardcore Mégane R26.R means there will be another extreme hot hatch from Dieppe, though. “There will be some evolution, with work on the engine, chassis, torque or weight. Every time we launch a sporty car we have a special edition”, said a source at Renault.

Good news indeed. We’ve become big fans of the R26.R and Renault is trying to etch its name further into the record books with another crack at the quickest front-wheel-drive lap time of the Nürburgring. While the car currently holds the record at 8m17s, the Focus RS is flexing its muscles in an attempt to snatch that claim away. Apparently the Mégane managed an 8m12s before official times were taken, though.

Adapted from Evo

Renault’s roadgoing race car is back, and it looks better than ever! With sublime handling and great engines, previous Renaultsport Clios have already claimed their places in the hot hatch hall of fame. But can the French firm improve what was already a winning formula?

As the new name suggests, reworking the 2.0-litre motor has resulted in an extra helping of horsepower… all 2kW of it. Maximum torque of 215Nm is now delivered at 5,400rpm – 150rpm lower than in the previous Clio RS – while first, second and third gears have been shortened to improve acceleration. Fuel economy and CO2 emissions show a slight improvement too, at 8.1L/100km and 195g/km.

Customers can choose between Sport and Cup chassis. The former puts the emphasis on comfort and throws in more standard kit, while the Cup is engineered for uncompromised driving pleasure.

A lower ride height, 15 per cent stiffer dampers than the current Clio RS and a quicker steering rack ensures the Cup-spec car feels alive in your hands. But it’s not just for experts – the chassis is beautifully forgiving. Charge into a corner too fast, and a sharp lift of the throttle wipes off the understeer and tightens your line – it really is a flattering car to drive fast.

A rear diffuser, front splitter and boot spoiler not only help to build downforce at speed, but give the car its trademark racy styling. New additions include a revised front end with lower front air intake, new lights and a gloss-black grille. If that’s not enough to get you noticed, the Alien green paint certainly will!

If creature comforts are your thing, look away now: the Cup interior is the same as the entry-level Clio’s. All you get is electric windows and a simple stereo – there’s not even air-conditioning. But it does help shave 36kg off the kerbweight, and keeps the price tag low at £15,750. For that sort of money, nothing comes close to offering the Clio’s dynamics.

Adapted from AutoExpress

Along with the rest of the Clio range, Renault also launched the revised the RS (Renaultsport) model in Geneva. Highlights include a more powerful 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine that now delivers 147.5 kW, chassis modifications and of course, the cosmetic upgrades.

Like the rest of the range, the hot Clio gets a new fascia featuring Renaultsport’s new styling identity cues such as the blacked out centre section of the front bumper, front splitter, and a subtly restyled rear end with new tail lights and a different rear diffuser.

The Clio RS is powered by an upgraded version of the outgoing model’s normally-aspirated 2.0 16V engine. Peak power has been increased by 2.5 kW to 147.5 kW at 7,100rpm and now produces its maximum torque of 215Nm at 5,400rpm (compared with 5,500rpm for the previous Clio RS). The first, second and third gear ratios have all been shortened for punchier acceleration. The new Clio RS accelerates from standstill to 100km/h or in 6.9 seconds while top speed increases by 10 km/h to 225 km/h.

Another benefit of powertrain upgrades is the fact that its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been slightly reduced to 8.2 l/100km in the combined cycle and 195g/km.

Renaultsport engineers also widened the front and rear tracks by 48mm and 50mm respectively while the wheelbase is extended by 10mm to 2,585mm for greater stability. Furthermore, the rear suspension features a stiffened programmed deflection torsion beam.

The new Clio RS is available in two guises, the basic RS and the more hardcore Cup which has a stiffer chassis and is 36kg lighter than the standard version.

Adapted from CarScoop

Ever since the unveiling of the Megané Trophy race car late last year, Megané fans have been eagerly awaiting to see what Renault engineers have in store for the watered down road-going version. Today, the all-new 2010 Megané RS has been revealed. The car is the successor to the popular Megané R26 and it is set to go on sale in Europe next month.

While the engine lineup in the standard Megané Coupe mirrors that of the five-door hatch, the new Megané RS features a high-performance 2.0-litre turbocharged unit developing 186kW and 340Nm of torque from 3000r/min – 80% of max torque is available from as low as 1900r/min, massively aiding in-gear acceleration.

Drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. The suspension setup is the same as the previous R26 model, including the separate steering and suspension axes for improved handling and resistance to torque and bump steer. Like its predecessor, the Megané RS is also available with a choice of two chassis: standard or Cup, the latter coming with a limited-slip diff for even better handling. Though ESP is standard in the RS to aid in safety ratings, it can be fully disconnected, allowing the car to respond to driver inputs in a pure and raw manner.

The new Megané RS is capable of completing the zero to 100km/h sprint in less than 6 seconds and a top speed of around 240km/h.

Confirmed via earlier spy shots are Brembo brake calipers and a central mounted exhaust system. Other features include an aggressively styled bodykit with a front splitter modeled on the R28 Renault Formula 1 car, a central exhaust tailpipe and 18in forged alloy wheels.

Inside, the car gets sporty Recaro bucket seats, leather trim, aluminum pedals, plus Renaultsport badging throughout the cabin.

Adapted from MotorAuthority