Better late than never

The Clio Renault Sport F1 Team R27 was first revealed over two years ago in January 2007. Now, finally, we will see this car in Australia at next week’s Melbourne International Motor Show, with sales beginning in April. Although, you may need to get in quick, as only 40 R27s are being imported.

Renault are asking a smidgen under $40K for their hottest of hot hatches, a $3500 premium over the regular Clio 197. If that tickles your fancy, you’ll be able to choose from a palette of three colours; Toro Red, Glacier White and, for an extra $1000, Victory Yellow.

Australia’s newest Clio is powered by the same 2.0 litre engine from the 197 model. So, you get a six-speed manual gearbox, 145kW at 7250rpm, with 215Nm of torque at 5550rpm.

The Clio R27 has the Cup chassis enhancements, which means with stiffer suspension and other tweaks, the more you throw at this little dynamo the more you will receive.

Brembo calipers (312mm front/300mm rear) are wrapped inside some curiously named BeBop anthracite rims. Making sure you can’t forget Renault’s F1 Constructor’s titles from 2005 and 2006 are a series of decals placed over the car, which complete the look.

Inside you get some tasty Recaro seats, saving six kilos over the regular seats. There is also climate control air conditioning and cruise control fitted. Renault’s ESP system helps keep you in check and a plaque individually numbering the car reminds you how special you are.

It’s great that the feisty little bugger is coming down under, but a shame that the feistiest of all Renaults, the Mégane R26.R, won’t be coming to Australia.

Full presser after the jump, plus more pics, including some cool cutaways proving, beyond doubt (haha), the car’s F1 links!

Clio Renault Sport R27 on Show in Melbourne

• First Clio Renault Sport 197 in Australia to feature performance-tuned ‘Cup Chassis’ suspension as standard.
• Recaro sports-seats
• Individually numbered
• April on sale

The Clio Renault Sport F1 Team R27 will be the star of the Renault stand at this years’ Melbourne International Motorshow.

The Clio Renault Sport 197 has been hailed as the benchmark hot-hatch chassis, but Renault’s performance arm has sought to move the game onto the next level with the launch of the Clio Renault Sport F1 Team R27.

Built at the Renault Sport factory in Dieppe, the Limited Edition Clio Renault Sport R27 is inspired by the FIA World Championship winning-Renault F1 Team, and shares part of its name with the championship winning Grand Prix chassis, the R27.

Continuing Renault’s rich heritage for producing grin-inducing hot hatches, the Clio Renault Sport 197 F1 Team R27 features ‘Cup Chassis’ suspension settings, plus signature 17” charcoal coloured alloy wheels, red brake calipers, Recaro front seats and exclusive Renault F1 Team decals. Only 40 R27’s will be imported into Australia.

Chassis set-up – Effective in the extreme

The ‘Cup Chassis’ suspension settings on the R27 include a number of enhancements for both track and road driving.

The ride height has been lowered by 7mm compared to the standard Clio Renault Sport 197 to ensure a lower centre of gravity and reduced load transfer for more effective cornering. Its cornering ability has been improved even further by the springs which have been stiffened by 27% at the front and 30% at the rear, giving reduced body roll and pitch when cornering. With a 10% increase in bending stiffness and more flexible bump-stops, the double-axis strut suspension system is also more stable when braking and offers greater steering precision when negotiating bends in quick succession.

The R27 is equipped with the standard Clio Renault Sport 197’s robust, powerful Brembo brake system, using 312mm ventilated discs at the front and 300mm solid discs at the rear.

2.0 16V – Sports Performance

The Clio Renault Sport 197 F1 Team R27 is powered by a normally-aspirated 2.0 16V engine and mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Offering a wide power band, maximum power of 145kW is available at 7,250rpm, with 215Nm of torque at 5,550 rpm.

F1 Team Links

The Clio Renault Sport 197 F1 Team R27 has standard decals on the front, rear, roof and door to celebrate Renault F1 Team’s Championship victories in 2005 and 2006.

In keeping with its motorsport lineage, the R27 also features red Brembo four-piston brake calipers at the front, Victory Yellow paint (which originally appeared on the Megane F1 Team 225 R26) and exclusive Renault F1 Team badging. Recaro front seats are also standard.

Derived from the world of Formula One, it also boasts a rear air diffuser which channels airflow to increase downforce on the car’s rear end, so counteracting lift. Meanwhile, on the side of the car, extractor vents on the front wings reduce turbulence to optimise the car’s drag co-efficient and facilitate the outflow of under bonnet heat.

Standard features

The Clio Renault Sport 197 F1 Team R27 offers the same comprehensive standard equipment list as the Clio Renault Sport 197, but in addition to climate-control air conditioning, cruise control (with speed-limiter) and ESP, the Limited Edition adds Cup Chassis signature 17” charcoal coloured alloy wheels, red painted brake calipers, Renault Sport Recaro Seats, a numbered plaque and F1 Team decals.

Recaro front seats feature as standard, offering harness cut-outs for a sporty look as well as a weight saving of six kilograms.

The numbered plate alongside the handbrake leaves no doubt as to the unique sporting heritage of the Clio Renault Sport F1 Team R27.

Recommended Retail Price*

The recommended retail price* of the Clio Renault Sport 197 F1 Team R27 is $39,990.00. Victory Yellow paint is the only option at $1,000.

The R27 will be available in three colours, Toro Red, Glacier White and Victory Yellow (a $1,000 option).
(* – plus dealer delivery, stamp duty, and other on road costs)