New car news

29 January 2007 - 11:00

Clio 197 beefed up...

It's called the Renault Clio F1 Team R27, but we can dispense with the mealy mouthed title and simply regard this hot Clio as the Cup version.

Built to commemorate the launch of Renault's latest F1 car, this Clio comes with the same 197bhp 2.0-litre engine as the normal Renaultsport Clio, but stiffer, lower suspension is borrowed from the Cup race car and there are 17in alloy wheels finished a fetching anthracite colour scheme.

The R27 Clio will be built in limited numbers with only 500 cars being made, each with a plaque to prove it.

The car will be no quicker in a straight line, but Renault promises us it will be an even bigger hoot to drive than the standard 197.

Apparently an even hotter Clio with a turbocharged engine is on the cards. Watch this space.