I have a good memory.
At launch the car was available in a single, generous specification that included four-piston Brembo front calipers with 305mm vented discs, a functional rear diffuser, aircon, keyless entry and go, and 12-spoke 17in alloys with Clio-specific Continental SportContact tyres. The paint choice was two solid (Ultra Red, Racing Blue) and three metallic colours (Albi Blue, Deep Black and Nimbus silver).
Things started to get more interesting in 2007 when, to celebrate Renault’s 2006 Formula 1 title successes, the F1 Team R27 special edition was introduced. This brought Liquid Yellow to the 197 range, along with Recaro seats, special graphics and a numbered plaque by the handbrake. It also delivered the first Cup chassis on a 197. The Cup chassis was 7mm lower with springs stiffened by 27 and 30 per cent front and rear respectively and beefed-up MacPherson struts to sharpen the steering, and it soon became a £400 option on regular 197s too. Anthracite alloys and red calipers were the visual cues, though since these are easily replicated, the only sure way of spotting a Cup chassis today is to check the colour coding on the springs – orange and blue front and rear means it’s the real deal.
At the same time, and slightly confusingly, Renault introduced the stripped-out, cut-price 197 Cup, which also featured the Cup chassis but did without steering wheel adjustment, aircon, cruise control, key-card access, electric mirrors and even the tool kit. It cost £1k less than a regular 197, though if you specced the manual aircon and Recaros, it soon cost more.
Another useful improvement came in August 2008, with a new set of gear ratios including a longer sixth that made for easier motorway cruising. Over the final few months of production, Renault offered a Lux model, which added a machined finish to the standard 12-spoke wheels, auto lights and wipers, climate control and leather upholstery.
Production of the 197 ended in summer 2009, when it was superseded by the Clio Renaultsport 200 -– essentially the same car, but with a number of upgrades that finally allowed the current-generation Clio to reach its potential. The engine got minor changes to the head casting, variable valve timing and ECU map, lifting peak power to 197bhp, adding low- and mid-range muscle and dropping the 0-60 time from 6.9sec to 6.6.
The visible differences included a revised front bumper and headlights, five-split-spoke alloys and a revised rear diffuser, while the interior was given a general spruce-up and there were some tasty new options, including an integrated TomTom satnav and a panoramic sunroof.
Once again, the real interest lay under the skin, with new spring and damper rates on all versions and a quicker steering rack for the Cup variants, which this time were available right from the off. The 200 also adopted the torque-steer-killing ‘independent steering axis’ front suspension geometry first seen on the Mégane R26.R. The combined effect was stunning: more power everywhere, more steering feel and tight suspension control.
Three special editions to look out for are the Gordini with its unique blue paint job and white stripes (Cup pack optional); the Silverstone, in silver with a black roof and with the Cup pack, Speedlines and Recaros; and the Raider, in matt grey or red and with 18in R26.R wheels and leather Recaros.
