Although the third-generation Renault Clio III will make its world début at the Frankfurt Show, the Régie has not forgotten its hot hatch fans... look out for the 150 kW Renaultsport Concept!

Although the third-generation Renault Clio III will make its world début at the Frankfurt Show, the Régie has not forgotten its hot hatch fans... look out for the 150 kW Renaultsport Concept!


CARtoday.com reported in June that the Clio III would become available on the South African market by April next year. The 3,99m-long new light car, based on the Renault-Nissan Alliance-developed B platform (Micra, Modus), is more spacious and offers better specification levels than its predecessor. (click here for more)


However, performance aficionados will not have to mourn the imminent retirement of the 131 kW Clio Sport 2,0 or the 187 kW Clio Sport V6 (of which a road test appeared in the June issue of CAR), for long... The Renaultsport Concept of the Clio III, which is pictured here, will be in Frankfurt next month and, although there are currently no plans for a mid-engined Clio III in the mould of the current V6, next year's Sport version of the Régie's light car will have a 2,0-litre engine with a power output of around 150 kW.


Aggressive styling details mark out the new Renaultsport Concept... An elaborate front air dam, wing-mounted air vents and an angular, metal-finish diffuser with twin exhausts.


The Clio III Sport's underfloor diffuser creates a low-pressure area beneath the car, resulting in increased downforce. Flared wheelarches accentuate the 18-inch alloy wheels, complemented by 330mm cross-drilled Brembo brake discs and four-pot, red-painted calipers, with 280mm discs at the rear.


The Renaultsport Concept is fitted with a six-speed close-ratio manual transmission, which is well suited to the naturally-aspirated 16-valve unit's peaky performance characteristics.


Inside, the chrome and leather-trimmed cabin is over the top, as one would expect from a concept vehicle. When the Clio III Sport model goes into production, it could have four individual seats, but many of the Concept's flashy interior fitments will ultimately be substituted by more discreet detailing...

Original article from Car