Renault Announces UK Pricing for New Clio RS EDC

If you're reading this story, it probably means you already know a whole lot about the new uber hot hatching from Renault. The French have made the Clio RS all techy and have added a turbo, a twin-clutch gearbox and trick screens and computers everywhere.

 Fortunately, that hasn't made the car much more expensive. Renault UK has announced pricing for the much anticipated Clio 200 EDC, which starts at £18,995, only "£100 more than the three-door, manual Peugeot 208 GTi and £1,055 less than the lower-powered, DSG-equipped five-door Volkswagen Polo GTI."

The Cup model actually costs more because it's not as stripped down as it used to be. For £450, it offers a 3mm lowered ride height, 15% stiffer chassis and quicker steering rack, red brake callipers and gloss black 18-inch Renaultsport wheels shod with Dunlop Sport Maxx TT tyres.

We'd stick with the more comfortable normal chassis and buy some of the many options available, like 18” alloy wheels (£185), rear parking sensors (£315). heated front seats (£250), metallic paint (£495 (Renault i.d. Liquid Yellow £1,300 or Flame Red £595)) and dark carbon full leather upholstery (£1,000).

Orders will be open on April 8th, with deliveries taking place in June.

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2013 Renault Clio IV RS Pricing and Options

Bad news Clio RS fans, the next generation might be a tad more expensive. Pricing for the fourth-generation hothatch has not been revealed yet, as the carmaker has promise this will be an average of all its competitors.

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Spyshots: Renault Clio RS

Car manufacturers have always been slow in bringing the hotter versions of their hatches to market. Take the famous Focus RS for example: by the time the latest one came out, there were only a few years of production left for the car it was based on.

But not Renault, not anymore! It looks like they will reveal the hot Clio RS at the same time as the regular versions of new hatchback model, most likely at the 2012 Paris Motor Show in late September.

While the regular Clio will have three-cylinder engines to save fuel, this will most likely use a turbo for the very first time in the model’s history. Rumor has it that the French carmaker has co-developed a 1.6-liter with Mercedes specifically for hotter cars.
Cosmetically, the car is also much different than its predecessor, as it’s clearly a five-door instead of the three-door we’ve grown accustomed to. Renault is trying to introduce style to the range, so the rear doors will have handles behind the glass, like on the recent Alfa Romeos.

These spy photos of the fully built pre-production prototype show a new set of sports wheels and aero elements such beefed up sills, a diffuser tail and an F1 style wing in the front bumper.

We’re very excited to see if Renault can sell this sort of car for around €20,000.

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