Renault has unveiled the new Renault Clio GT-Line, which will sit in between regular Clios like the Clio TCe 90 and the top of the range Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo EDC.
It will be powered by a 1.2 litre turbocharged engine producing 120 horsepower and 190Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed EDC dual clutch transmission with paddle shifters. The new ‘TCe 120′ 1.2 litre turbo makes the same torque but 10 less horsepower than the larger 1.4 litre ‘TCe 130′ engine.
Although it doesn’t bear the Renaultsport badge like it’s hot hatch sibling (previewed in Malaysia this year), the Renault Clio GT-Line was developed by Renaultsport and comes with a Sport Chassis as standard, with 40% stiffer dampers. It’s also equipped with R.S. Drive, a system that offers two driving modes – Normal and Sport. The Sport mode sharpens the car’s responses by tweaking engine and gearbox mapping, ESC stability control settings, steering feel and throttle response. Shifts are 30ms quicker than the Normal mode’s 200ms shift time.
It’s not particularly fast though, hitting 100km/h in 9.9 seconds, but it’s got fast looks. There are Renaultsport design cues all over the exterior – the grille, GT front and rear bumpers and specific rear lip spoiler, side sills, offset LED daytime running lights, twin chrome exhaust tailpipes and GT badging both front and rear. The interior has dark carbon GT upholstery, matched with details picked out in chrome and gloss black, a GT leather steering wheel with badging, Renaultsport seats with additional side support, aluminium-capped pedals, steering column-mounted gearshift paddles, specific instrument backgrounds, anthracite surrounds for the air vents, gearlever gaiter, plus inserts for the gearlever and door panels.
So, a go fast hatchback with good handling but without the power?
Sounds like it’s designed for a specific sweet spot for youngsters in
the Europe where they can own a good looking and good handling drive but
without the high insurance fees of a powerful engine.
No comments:
Post a Comment