Renaultsport Clio 200 priced
Renaultsport launches its potent new Clio 200 and Clio 200 Cup; prices up £255
The updated Renaultsport Clio launches to the press this week, and despite a raft of improvements prices rise by just £255.
There are two versions, the Renaultsport Clio 200 and 200 Cup, with the tauter, sharper, latter car the cheaper option at £15,750. It does without equipment such as air conditioning, keyless entry, cruise control and fog lamps though, things which are among the abundance of extra kit you’ll get on the ‘regular’ car, which costs £16,750. The standard Clio 200 can also be specified with the cup package for an extra £400, however, making it perhaps the best compromise.
As always, Cup is the way to go, with stiffer springs compared to the standard car (by 27 per cent front and 30 per cent rear), 7mm lower ride height and a quicker steering rack. The entry-level 200 Cup also weighs just 1204kg, resulting in a 166bhp/ton power to weight ratio. That’s more than a Ford Escort Cosworth.
If your budget or performance needs don’t quite stretch to the 197bhp Renaultsport Clio, there’s also a milder version of the new supermini, the Clio GT (pictured right, in blue). It gets the option of a 126bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine (£13,495) or a 105bhp 1.5 diesel (£14,445) and its insurance grouping should be more palatable than the Clio 200’s for more youthful drivers.
Like the hotter Clios, it is set apart from the outgoing model by new headlights and different grille treatment at the front, which gives the new car a more striking appearance than before.
Sales begin May 15 2009, with deliveries from the end of June.
