Renault Sport unveils three new Clio models built for motorsports

The next generation of the road-legal Renault Clio RS may still be under development, but this did not stop Renault Sport, the sports car subdivision of the French marque, from unveiling as many as three track-only editions of the upcoming hatchback. The Clio Rally modification speaks for itself, while the Clio RX is meant for gravel road racing and the Clio Cup feels best on tarmac.

All three come based on the production-issue Clio RS Line and feature FIA-approved roll cages, bucket seats and air ventilation systems. Differences boil down to suspension settings, aerodynamic kits and wheels, which means you can actually turn your racecar into a rally car and vice versa by purchasing and installing the necessary components.

Powering the series is a 1.3-liter turbocharged gasoline engine fitted with a massive Garret supercharger. The nominal output amounts to 170 – 180 hp (127 – 134 kW), and you can adjust it to comply with any particular racing regulations. A new five-speed sequential transmission and a ZF limited-slip differential are used to deliver the power to the wheels.

The suspension scheme remains the same, but all cars now benefit from better shocks and springs (Bos Suspension). Among other things, the Clio Rally, RX, and Cup all take advantage of hydraulic handbrakes.

If you wish, you can buy your own hatchback as early as October 2019, but you will not be able to drive it on public roads until the manufacturer clears all the necessary permissions sometime in 2020.

Photos: Renault