Chris Harris has just had a play with three of the hottest hot hatchbacks money can buy: the hideous yet apparently very capable Ford Focus ST, the media’s favourite Renault Megane RS265 and the Vauxhall Astra VXR (coming to Australia as the Opel Astra OPC).
True to form the outcome follows the expected script, but there are some good insights and surprises along the way (note the lap times).
It’s Harris at his best, so just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Even before it was confirmed, we were lamenting the loss of soul Renault had stripped from the new Clio RS. Back then it was thought there were no hopes of a Clio Williams revival either. However, that’s since changed and one of the best examples of an F1-inspired hot hatch is back on the agenda.
It’s expected the Clio Williams will go on sale in 2014 with an official confirmation possible later this year. An extra 20hp is predicted to be found lurking inside the Clio’s 1.6 litre turbo four cylinder, for a new peak of 220hp.
Even though the new Clio RS is yet to hit the streets, the addition of a Williams badge should usher in a harder edge to the hot hatch’s handling and general road manner. All of a sudden, the flappy paddle EDC transmission may even begin to make sense.
Interestingly, the original 1993 Clio Williams was created by Renault alone and the Williams stickers were added on the back of Nigel Mansell’s 1992 F1 world championship. Perhaps, this time around, Williams F1 may play an active role in the car’s development in return for a sweeter deal on its Renault F1 engines.
[Source: Autocar]
Renault has snuck into Paris with an all-new Clio RS 200, based on the fourth-generation Clio. We can’t say we’ve noticed a lot of fanfare for what is one of Renault’s most coveted models. Perhaps that has something to do with the initials EDC (Efficient Double Clutch) which have been added to the end of its model designation.
And so a little piece of the Clio’s famed involvement has been lost—there is no manual transmission offered. But there’s more. Also gone is the free-revving normally aspirated 2.0 litre engine, in favour of a new 1.6 litre turbocharged powerplant. Its key numbers are 200hp at 6000rpm and 240Nm available from 1750rpm. Much like any other hot hatch, really.
On paper, then, this Clio RS has lost some of its character. And while it has always had plenty of character to go around, let’s hope all has not been lost. Thankfully, the Renault Sport engineers haven’t been chucked out and we trust that, in either Sport or Cup chassis trim, the Clio IV RS is still an inviting drive.
Ahead of its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show this month MINI has finally come good with official details on its latest John Cooper Works GP model. This includes a raft of new pics showing the car’s interior for the first time. Today’s info follows an official preview of the car back in May and the revelation of leaked specs earlier this week.
According to a Facebook post from MINI Australia in June a total of 20 GPs are on their way to our shores. That represents 1% of the worldwide production run of 2000 models. We’d not be surprised if Australia’s allocation changed, which could mean more, but it may mean less. Let’s hope not. Australian pricing has not been confirmed yet and based on speculation we suggest you pick a number between 65 and 75 and multiply it by 1000.
So, back to the car then. As we confirmed on Tuesday the ‘GP2’ is powered by a 160kW turbocharged 1.6 litre engine, a modest 5kW gain on the regular JCW model. Maximum torque remains at 260Nm (280Nm with overboost).
A number of exterior styling tweaks set the GP aside from other MINIs and include any colour you like so long as it’s Thunder Grey metallic, complete with red highlights. GP decals on the bonnet and sides of the car also help let the world know this is no ordinary MINI. A fact reinforced by its Challenge racecar inspired rear wing and lower diffuser. And those lightweight 17″ alloys won’t be found on any other production MINI.
Alcantara and leather Recaro bucket seats set off the interior nicely along with the thick leather steering wheel. The red highlights have found their way inside as well, most notably on the gear stick, seatbelts and rear strut brace.
The GP gets the luxury of xenon headlights, but makes do without a rear seat, rear wiper and steering wheel controls. Coilover suspension with dramatic default negative camber settings ensure the semi-slick tyres can maintain grip in extreme cornering conditions. It also reminds you the GP is not that far removed from the MINI Challenge racecars.
A specially tuned Dynamic Stability Control system affords more freedom for the right foot. After you’ve been heavy with the accelerator pedal you’ll be pleased to learn you have six-pot 330mm brakes up front and 280mm brakes at the rear. More than enough for the 1235kg kerb weight.
Generally speaking we’re big fans of the GP, but for the expected razor sharp handling we reckon you’ll have to accept a crashing ride. We do hold some slight reservations that for all its undoubted charms it may prove a slight pain in the arse—perhaps quite literally—for those hoping to use this car as a daily driver.
As is the case with Renault in Australia fans have been made to wait for the manufacturer’s latest and greatest hot hatch. But now, a year after its European debut, the Megane RS 265 is available down under.
Obviously the 265 refers to the peak horsepower figure within the car’s 2.0 litre turbo four; if you deal in kilowatts the magic number is 195. Coupled with a very handy 360Nm of torque and a good old fashioned 6-speed manual box, the front-wheel drive master can reach 100km/h in six seconds flat.
The Megane RS 250 was launched in Australia in late 2010 and to find the extra 15 horsepower for the RS 265 Renault has turned up the boost on the turbo by 0.2 bar, to a new peak of 2.5 bar. They also upgraded the air intake and tweaked the ECU to suit.
With a steady right foot Renault reckon you’ll use fuel at the rate of 8.2l/100km, but, really, why buy a hot Megane to drive it like a nanna?
Renault has made the RS 265 available in four different specifications. The range starts with the Cup model, which has a manufacturer’s list price of $42,640. There are three Trophy specifications: the regular Trophy is priced from $47,140, the Trophy+ from $51,640 and the limited edition Trophy 8:08 (pictured above) is $49,990.
The Trophy 8:08 is a reference to the car’s Nürburgring lap time, which stands as the current front-wheel drive record for a production vehicle around the famed 20.832km Nordschleife. Only 100 will be heading to Australia and you can have any colour you like so long as it’s liquid yellow or pearl white.
We reckon the RS 265 range is pretty good value for money and in the entry-level Cup model you get things like 18″ alloy wheels, Brembo brakes, LED daytime running lights, rear parking sensors, limited slip diff, dual zone climate control, Bluetooth audio and more as standard equipment. You can read the full list in the detailed Australian press kit, available below.
Over and above the equipment found in the Cup the Trophy adds Recaro seats, 19″ Steev alloy wheels, hands free entry and tyre pressure monitoring. In addition to those features the Trophy+ includes Renault Sport heated leather seats with electric adjustment, integrated sat nav with a 7″ screen, reversing camera, bi-xenon headlights, a fixed glass roof and front/rear parking sensors.
The Trophy 8:08 drops the sat nav and reversing camera from the Trophy+ along with the fixed glass roof, but picks up model specific decals.
A comprehensive range of 50 wallpaper-friendly photos and detailed press information awaits after the break. Once you’ve read all that, don’t be surprised if you find yourself making contact with your local Renault dealer. Actually, it may surprise you to learn that Australia is the world’s third largest market for the Megane RS models.
The feisty little Volkswagen Polo GTI has gone back-to-back and defended its Bang For Your Bucks award, as judged by Motor Magazine.
The Pogo had to beat 17 other competitors to win the award and Motor claims the 132kW high-demand hot hatch has the essentials required to deserve its praise: “What the Polo GTI aces without question are the fundamentals of not just every great hot hatch but every great car.â€
According to evo, the rumours suggesting the new Clio RS will exclusively feature a dual clutch transmission have been confirmed by Renault.
Compounding the loss is word the Clio hot hatch will be powered by a 1.6 litre turbocharged four cylinder (with around 150kW). Gone is the free-revving normally aspirated four-pot, swapped for a default turbo solution. Gone is the slick shifting manual box, swapped for a granny-friendly twin clutch transmission.
On the plus side, the Clio IV should tip the scales around 100kg lighter than the Clio III. We’re sure Renault Sport won’t forget how to make the Clio a cracking drive, we just think it’s a shame that, on paper, it is taking something of a cookie cutter approach.
Oh, if you’d already put one and one together regarding Renault reuniting with Williams, well, don’t. There’s no plans to revive the iconic Clio Williams badge.
[Source: evo]
Okay, it’s probably no surprise that the 265hp on offer in the Renault Megane 265 Trophy—one of the world’s best front-wheel drive chassis—can see off the 200hp found under the bonnet of the rear-wheel drive Subaru BRZ. But watch this video from Evo, filmed at Bedford Autodrome, and see if you think everything went according to script.
Back in May when Audi released the A1 clubsport at the Wörthersee show we became a little weak at the knees. Sure, we knew the 370kW in the show car was never going to be likely, but would Audi really make a production model based on this fantasy?
Well, as it happens, yes they will. And here it is, the A1 quattro. Essentially they’ve stuffed the 2.0 TFSI engine from the S3, as well its quattro all-wheel drive system and a 6-speed manual transmission, into an A1 bodyshell. Slightly detuned to 188kW (down from 195kW Euro spec S3 engines) the A1 quattro can reach 100km/h in 5.7 seconds. Yes, you’d expect it to be faster than an S3 wouldn’t you, as we give a subtle wink to the Audi marketing department.
There is a catch with the A1 quattro; it’s limited to just 333 examples and being left-hand drive only, it won’t be coming to Australia. Or will it, but just in another name? Is this car merely a precursor to a longer-term RS1 hyper-hatch we wonder. Let’s hope so.
Only available in Glacier White the A1 quattro wears 18×8″ exclusive cast alloy wheels. Other styling enhancements include a somewhat over the top rear wing which finishes off an otherwise well executed bodykit. Internally there’s a fatter flat-bottomed steering wheel and a questionable red tachometer, which stands out in an instrument cluster full of black dials.
Befitting a car such as this the ESP can be switched off entirely to allow more trackday fun.
The A1 quattro will be set for European deliveries in the second half of 2012 and we hope that somehow, in some form, a right-hand drive version finds its way to Australia one day.
Renault is trading off its F1 involvement once again with this new Megane RS250 Monaco Grand Prix Limited Edition. Good to see they’ve not lost the knack of coming up with catchy model titles.
Living up to its ‘Limited Edition’ name just 50 new RS250 MonacoGP models will find their way to Australia; all individually numbered. The price of admission into the MonacoGP club is $48,990 plus on roads ($7000 more than a standard RS250).
Apart from its lengthy title other factors separating the MonacoGP from regular RS250s are white pearlescent paint and piano black trim on the wing mirrors, fog light surrounds and rear diffuser. There is also special ‘MonacoGP’ badging, of course.
Inside, a more tangible benefit is given in the form of an integrated Sat Nav system; the first time we’ve seen that in a Megane down under. As well, the MonacoGP comes standard with 19″ alloys, bi-xenon headlights and four-pot Brembo brakes.
Aside from that it’s pretty much usual Megane RS250 fare, including the same 184kW/340Nm engine from the regular range. A few more ponies would have been nice, don’t you think. Having said that, Renault’s well-tuned chassis still comes standard.
Good news for the Volkswagen Polo GTI after its reputation was boosted with the Motor Magazine ‘Bang For Your Bucks’ title.
In a nice coup for the baby GTI, Motor compared the Pogo’s 2011 results against the scores from the previous five years and found the Polo GTI would have won the gong for six years in a row.
The Polo GTI’s success lies in its $27,900 list price (3 door model) where it is able to make the most of its relatively modest 132kW power against more fancied and more expensive rivals in the Motor comparison.
Renault is shouting from the rooftops about its new Nürburgring record for front-wheel drive vechicles. The new mark is 8:07.97 and was set by development driver Laurent Hurgon at the wheel of the latest hot Megane, the RS 265 Trophy. Take that BMW!
Check out our coverage on AUSringers.com for more, including in-car footage of the full lap.