Motoring review: Renault and renaultsport at the goodwood festival of speed 2012

Carrying on from yesterday's pagani blog, todays will feature the renaults from the 2012 festival of speed.

Renault had two models present albeit the new renaultsport clio was only visible on the hill runs to most.

The renault alpine a110-50
First of all please put this car into production! Next is the noise, the alpine went out in the supercar group for it's runs up the hill and was definitely the loudest car of the group with a real race car sound to it (partly down to the fact it isn't running any silencers). This is no ordinary concept this thing really moves.

The concept car is based around the current megane trophy racing inheriting the same chassis and 400bhp v6 feeding the rear wheels. Renault commented if it does make production it will stay rear wheel drive and no engine has been confirmed yet (my guess is on the current megane 265's 2.0 turbo unit). Renault have also set a target weight of under 1000kg meaning whichever engine they choose the car should be pretty fast.

All we can do now on the alpine is wait, keep emailing and pestering renault to make it into production, the comments at goodwood were very very positive from members of the public so fingers crossed it will make it.

Renault Alpine A110-50, a photo by Nimburs on Flickr.

a photo by Nimburs on Flickr.
The brilliant looking alpine return

The new Renaultsport Clio.

Firstly if you missed the new clio being flung up the hill fear not you are amongst the masses, the car was only run up the hill late Friday and Saturday. From seeing it (and reacting too late hence the screen pictures)it seemed quick in a straight line and sounded very good.

The current facts known are:
5 door only.
1.6 litre turbo
No Manual gearbox
Will be unveiled properly at the paris motorshow.

There will be mixed opinions on this new clio for sure. Having driven many miles and having lapped circuits all over the world in the current 200, im alittle miffed on these new options. The clio 200 has always been a blistering hot hatch and a brilliant drivers car. I found it so compelling to drive on road or track, nice weighty steering, good feedback and such poise on and past the limit. The gearbox wasn't the slickest but it was never a chore and the pedals (as with all renaultsports)were just perfectly space for some heel and toe action. The engine in the 200 never seemed punchy in delivery like the clio sports of old, most of this down to the weight of the newer cars but was very keen to rev and was great fun to keep on the boil.

I have no doubt he new clio will be the best handling small hatch, the boys at renaultsport just have that ability but will the new car become abit dull. The turbo engine, whilst I welcome the additional torque output, will never rev like the 2.0 and I feel the gearbox will further take away from the excitement. The clio was always the no frills hot hatch with the cup model being very low on equipment levels but the driving experience always made up for it, whether the new model can balance between that remains to be seen but I will be keeping my faith as I have yet to drive a bad renaultsport and the 200 sets a good test bed for the new car to be developed from.

We will update with any news of the clio as and when we receive it.