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.