Renault Clio RS 200 EDC – Australian pricing & specs

The new Clio RS 200 EDC is now on Australian shores. Renault Australia told us back in October that entry level pricing was going to be $28,790. Hurrah, we all said; that’s quite cheap!

Of course, that price is for the Sport option and the Clio RS is available in four trims in total. There’s the basic Sport model and the sharpened Cup chassis, as we’ve come to expect from Renault. The Cup is 15% stiffer and 3mm lower (make sure you measure it to be absolutely certain).

In addition to that both the Sport and Cup can be bought in Trophy spec, which nets you leather seats, auto climate control, rear parking sensors, a rear view camera and 18″ alloys.

Quantify all that in dollars and in its most expensive form—Cup Trophy—the Clio is priced from $36,790. Add your taxes etc and it’s starting to push the friendship a little.

Remember, too, that Renault, in its wisdom, has joined the rush for fuel efficiency and replaced the screaming normally aspirated engine with a 1.6 litre turbo. We can only hope the recipe for the hot Clio’s handling hasn’t been changed and that Renault Sport has found a way to ensure not one single kilowatt from the 147 on offer is wasted.

Rightly so, hot Renaults have a bit of a cult following and we wonder if the ingredients of the Clio RS have been changed too much. While the tech boffins will like the exclusive “choice” of a 6-speed “Efficient Double Clutch” transmission we reckon the purists would prefer if Renault saved some cash and gave them the choice of a proper gear box and a three-door layout.

All hot hatches should be three doors. It’s like that and that’s the way it is!

The New Clio R.S. 200 EDC – Iconic Performance, Unleashed

December 12, 2013. Renault Australia has today launched the latest hot hatch from the iconic Renault Sport division – the new Clio R.S. 200 EDC.

New Clio R.S. 200 EDC takes the appeal of performance motoring to a new level thanks to the introduction of a 6-speed EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) transmission as standard and the new Renault Sport enhanced 200hp (147 kW) 1.6 Turbo engine. The car benefits from Renault’s very latest thinking when it comes to comfort and versatility, while Renault Sport Technologies brings the expertise it has forged in motor sport to the table. The result of this unique combination is an easy, enjoyable drive in everyday use.

Nevertheless, the new Clio R.S. 200 EDC is equally capable of morphing into a genuine performance car with exceptional credentials. In addition to its warm, sensuous lines which express its performance heart, new Clio R.S. 200 EDC combines benchmark dynamics with carefully optimised fuel consumption. Designed by Renault Sport Technologies, New Renault Clio R.S. 200 EDC is made in France, and targets those who appreciate beautiful cars and exacting purists alike.

The new Clio is the first production model to be designed from the ground-up by Renault’s Senior Vice President Corporate Design, Laurens van den Acker, and demonstrates the contemporary face of the marque through Renault’s new brand identity.

Renault’s heritage in motorsport and Formula 1 knowhow is clearly demonstrated in the Clio R.S. 200 EDC through the new 1.6 Turbo engine, steering wheel mounted paddle shifts, launch control and the new R.S. Monitor 2.0.

As with the standard passenger variants, the new Renault Clio also boasts two in-car entertainment platforms – Renault’s MEDIA NAV and R-Link. Both systems use an 18 cm touchscreen tablet display and enable satellite navigation, radio, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free telephony or music audio streaming, as well as USB and 3.5mm connectors. To ensure excellent acoustics inside the car and avoid distortion at high volumes, the speakers in the front doors of new Clio feature as standard a world premiere in the form of Bass Reflex technology. Thanks to an additional cone, this technology allows the equivalent volume and listening enjoyment of a 30-litre speaker.

To adapt the car’s characteristics to its driver’s style of driving, new Clio R.S. 200 EDC is fitted as standard with R.S. Drive which offers three modes of driving – Normal, Sport and Race. The driver simply selects the mode best suited to the situation and the new Clio R.S. 200 EDC will automatically adjust accelerator pedal mapping, ESC intervention, power steering, and gear shift speeds – which can be as fast as 150 milliseconds.

The new Clio R.S. 200 EDC will come with a choice of Sport and Cup Chassis – both developed by the team at Renault Sport. Both chassis feature an electronic differential which seeks to optimise grip under cornering.

Available in two generous specification levels – standard and Trophy – and starting with a recommended retail price of just $28,790, the new Clio R.S. 200 EDC is set to take on the hot hatch segment.

Commenting on the launch of the new Clio R.S. 200 EDC, Justin Hocevar, Managing Director Renault Australia, said; “It is with great excitement that we are able to bring the new Clio R.S. 200 EDC to the Australian market approximately 3 months earlier than we had originally planned. We are confident that this is a fantastic halo of the new Clio range and that it will soon win over more new hot hatch buyers than ever before.

“The new Clio R.S. 200 EDC is a versatile hot hatch that is equally at home in the city as on the open road. The introduction of the 6-speed dual clutch gearbox as standard and 5 door body style opens the Renault Sport product to a new demographic of buyers that we have never previously had a product to suit.

“The light hot hatch market has shifted dramatically in the past few years and is now heavily skewed towards 5-door body type and automatic transmission. Renault has watched this shift in the market closely and we have been able to develop the new Clio R.S. 200 EDC to appeal to more buyers than ever before.

“Australia is a strong Renault Sport market and in fact we are currently the second highest selling country in the world for the Mégane R.S. 265. We are confident that we have the positioning and product offering right with the new Clio R.S. 200 EDC and that this new Renault Sport product will build upon this already strong market position.”

As with all Renault Sport products, the new Clio R.S. 200 EDC has a 3 year/unlimited kilometre warranty and is eligible for Renault’s Capped Price Servicing program of just $299 per calendar year for the first three years. It will go on sale nationally on December 12th, 2013.

Manufacturer’s List Price

(Please note that these prices do not include dealer delivery or statutory costs. Please consult a dealer for drive away pricing relevant to your state)

• Clio R.S. 200 EDC Sport – $28,790
• Clio R.S. 200 EDC Cup – $31,290
• Clio R.S. 200 EDC Sport Trophy – $34,290
• Clio R.S. 200 EDC Cup Trophy – $36,790

Downloads

• Clio RS 200 EDC Australian press kit (80kb PDF)
• Clio RS 200 EDC Australian specifications (53kb PDF)
• Clio RS 200 EDC Australian options (137kb PDF)