Renault Australia will likely sell the more softly sprung version of its Clio RS 200 EDC alongside the performance flagship of the Clio range, countering earlier advice that the range for Australia would consist of just the hotter 'Cup' version.
At the international launch of the Clio RS 200 EDC in Spain earlier this year, Renault Australia spokespersons said the stiffer ‘Cup’ iteration of the Clio RS 200 EDC was to go solo at the top of the fourth-generation Clio range. But it seems competition elsewhere in the segment, keen pricing and favourable reviews of the warmer RenaultSport Clio variant have influenced an eleventh-hour change of heart. Speaking at the local launch of the standard Clio range today, a spokesperson for the brand said the positioning of competitors – including the Ford Fiesta ST from $25,990, Peugeot 208 GTi from $29,990 and Volkswagen Polo GTI from $27,790 – had given the Melbourne-based team cause for reflection. Without an intermediate player, the Clio range may have lost ground to the aforementioned rivals, which compete in the circa $28,000 arena. Were the Clio RS 200 EDC Cup to go it alone the differential in price between the range-topping standard Clio five-door and its hot hatch sibling would have been as much as $10,000. However, the introduction of the softer chassis tune would reduce that step to just over half that figure, giving buyers more reason to shop the French brand.
The announcement will come as good news to those interested in the sporty Clio, though those awaiting news of the even milder Clio GT 120 EDC will have to wait. The Clio GT 120 EDC offers a 120hp (89.4kW) 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol and is mated as standard to a six-speed Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) transmission. As yet, this model is not on the horizon for local showrooms. The Clio RS 200 and Cup iterations, on the other hand, offer a higher performance 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder developing 147kW/240Nm, again married to Renault’s six-speed EDC transmission. They are separated only by their state of chassis tune. The Clio RS 200 EDC rides on a MacPherson strut (front) / torsion beam (rear) suspension arrangement, 3mm lower and 15 per cent stiffer on Cup chassis models. Cup models also benefit from a quicker steering rack.
By way of comparison, the Ford Fiesta ST offers 132kW/240Nm and arrives as standard with six-speed manual transmission only. The Peugeot 208 GTi produces a more competitive 147kW/275Nm and is again available only with a six-speed manual transmission. Volkswagen’s aging Polo GTI develops 132kW/250Nm and like the Clio RS 200 is offered only with an automatic transmission, in this instance VW’s seven-speed DSG dual-clutch.
The RenaultSport Clio and Cup variants are set to go on sale from Q1 next year (2014).
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