Weve been here before, havent we? The big horsepower claim, the French hot hatch manufacturer, the high hopes, the marketing bad chat: but Peugeots bid for hot hatch greatness with the 206 GTi 180 ended in mild disappointment. Any chance things might go the same way with Renaults reply to the beefy Pug. the Clio 182? You might well have already guessed the answer, but lets find out if your right.
Lets get the bad news out of the way first, though. There isnt going to be a specific Cup version of the feistiest Clio, no stripped-out trackday special. But hold fire with the despair for now, because we reckon youre still going to end up liking this little Renault.
The cahnges to the 2004 Clio run a lot deeper than the 182 title suggests. The motor is indeed up on power compared with the outgoing model (the new output is 182ps, which is 179bhp, at 6500rpm), but thats not just down to a bit of judicious chipping. Much of the horsepower hike is due to an extensively revised exhaust system. The 172 used a four into one manifold whilst the 182 employs a 4-2-1 system that improves gas flow. Further down the system, theres a revised metallic catalyst that improves matters further, and the twin tailpipes now emerge with a bit of a gap between them, mimicking those of the Clio V6.
The 182s chassis is similarily more extensively changed than youd expect. Its wheelbase is slightly longer than the 172s and it also has a wider track. The wheelbase change has come about because of increased castor angle, which is now the same as the Clio Cup racecars. The rear anti-roll bar is now stiffer and even the suspension mountings have been strengthened to cope with the additional cornering loads. All of which gives a big hint about this cars focus. Springs and dampers have also been reworked.Spring rates are up 10 per cent, whilst dampers are stiffer in compression, softer in rebound - the thinking behind the softer rebound is undoubtedly to improve traction. This attention to mechanical detail is a revelation in an age when many makers resort to electronics to hold a flaky chassistogether.
Now heres the rub. For the Clio 182 you really want, Renault asks you to hand over an extra 200 notes for the Cup chassis option. Its a form of blackmail because if you buy a 182 without it youll regret it. The option involves a 3mm lower ride height, spring rates up a further 20 per cent at the front and 15 per cent at the rear, and even tricker Michelins.
Michelin rubber has become a key component in the performance of many recent mode\s, aWnougYni doeswre downsides; standing water, for instance, in the case of the M3 CSL and cold weather problems on Porsches Carrera GT. The new Michelin Exalto 2s on the Clio 182, however, are useable all day, every day, allowing the potential of the chassis to be fully exploited, for longer. The combination of the Exalto 2 and the optional Cup chassis is an absolute killer. The headline figures dont do it justice. The 179bhp motor, a 0-60mph of 7.1sec and a 139mph maximum arent shabby, but youll not conquer the Civic Type-R or Focus RS in a bar-room contest. Meet one of them out on the road and itll be an entirely different story...
Chassis details aside, one fundamental advantage the Clio has over all credible opposition is that its significantly lighter. At 1080kg its 120kg less weighty than the Civic and undercuts the Focus RS by the best part of 200kg.
Balance-wise the chassis is on the ever-so-slightly-nervous side of neutral. Its relatively light weight and the Michelin tyres mean this Clio changes direction better than any front-wheel-drive car Ive ever driven. It adopts that super-aggressive, tarmac-rally-car, flat-cornering patter - bodyroll is virtually non-existent. The brakes have a feel and ability that teaches every other manufacturer, bar Porsche, a lesson in how to stop a car. I had the pads on fire, literally, and yet the brakes refused to fade.
The speed the 182 can carry into a corner is simply phenomenal for a road car, but the ability to drive at this level comes at a price; any driver error now happens at higher velocities than before. Its not that the Clio wants to bite you, its just that it doesnt suffer fools and you cant feed it mixed messages - once youre committed to a corner, its best you stay committed.
Despite that slight caveat, Renault has created a driving tool thats everything we all wanted the Peugeot 206 GTI 180 to be. If youre building a hot hatch, this is the new benchmark. Ford and Vauxhall, dont say you havent been warned! Renault is the new king of asphalt.
In fact, so good is the Clio 182 with the Cup chassis set-up that I feel moved to make a bold statement - Ithink its the best hot hatch ever built.
PhilBennett
SPECIFICATION
Engine
4-cyl, 1998cc,16»
Max power
179bhp@65DOrpm
Max torque
148lbft@5250rpm
Top speed
139mph [claimed]
0-62mph
7.1sec Iclaimed]
Price
£14,613
On sale
Now
EVO RATING
*****
© Takes the hot hatch to a new high
© You have to pay extra for Cup chassis
03018VO Pictures: Andy Morgan
