Renault Clio RS: a revolution for the most beloved baby - sports cars
Having an outstanding predecessor puts you in an awkward position: expectations are high around you, and everyone expects at least equal skills. Indeed, humanity, which tends to struggle to accept change, tends to regard the past as better than the present, regardless of the reality of the facts. If not always, then in most cases.
Specifically, show the name Cleo and initials RS on the hatch itself, it is a very heavy load. The third episode of the most evil of small RenaultIn fact, it has enthralled legions of motorists with its passion for driving, dynamics and oversteer.
Will the new, fourth generation be able to confirm these qualities?
Without naturally aspirated engine
It is useless to deny this: "geeks" turn up their nose even before they sit on it. There Renault Clio IV RS loses in one fell swoop engine atmospheric for 2 liters of working volume and Speed manual: two pillars of the old RS.
In their place 1.600 turbo (the one already used on the Nissan Juke DIG-T, adequately redesigned by the Renault Sport department) and switched to double clutch EDC up to six reports as the only option.
La Megane RSIn short, there is no longer a car just for racing, old driving fanatics, as the app demonstrates R sound effect, included in the infotainment system R link standard (and which is also available for the brand new Sporter station wagon and the Clio sedan for 590 euros).
A device that, frankly, also puzzled me. After trying, however, thanks to the efficiency of the new Clio's audio system, it seems like he's behind the wheel of a Nissan GT-R, Alpine and Gordini of the past, or a Clio Cup and V6 whose notes are blurry. through the stereo speakers and in perfect harmony with the accelerator pedal.
Driving pleasure
Okay, just "Playstation". We are serious.
The first good news is that RS retains reactivity rear axle what made her famous and so beloved. To put it in the queue, you do not even need to disable stability control: the electronics calibration is quite permissive and even in Normal start, let the trailing end slide slightly before intervening.
The beauty is that such liveliness cannot be provoked: Cleo "Starts up from behind" not only due to the release of gas in corners, but also only due to a sharp turn of the steering wheel. Oversteer, which is easy to deal with anyway, without even calling it Sebastian Loeb, to the point where there is no need to counteract. In fact, in order to rebuild the car, it is enough to return to the throttle of the straight wheels, which has obvious advantages in terms of exit speed.
Speaking of speed, the gearbox is no lightning: especially when going uphill, it hesitates for a few seconds before shifting into the next gear, eliminating the instinct that only a manual transmission (and very few dual clutches) can give.
We're not talking about technical shift times - 0,2 seconds in Normal mode, 0,15 inches Sports e Race - how long the delay in response to commands given manually, despite a special sound signal that warns in advance when it is time to pull the lever.
Not bad, considering the generosity of the engine: elasticity at low revs and with good elongation allows, within certain limits, to "make a mistake" in the timing of gear changes. Of course, if you think of the old aspirated, how much he loved the high revs and his somewhat rude character, this almost electric supercharger loses something in terms of personality.
Electric is also a source of energy for steering, which should increase slightly as the speed increases and when Sport and Race modes are selected.
I use should because the differences are actually very minimal, making direct dialogue too mediated. The filter that the electronics places between the human and the mechanics is slightly weakened in race mode when the ESP and a function connected to it that simulates limited slip differential (when braking the inner drive wheel during skidding) they fail.
At the same time, the team is still "deaf" to small adjustments to the trajectory, due to the larger size of the road surface than in the past. Even with Cup frame – which unfortunately no longer includes special reduced ratio steering – la Clio iv it transfers a large load both laterally and longitudinally.
Behavior that, among other things, reduces safety when braking, at least initially and in harsh highway driving conditions. When you step on BRAKEThe French "tilt" most of the muzzle, creating a curving rear end that instinctively leads to less pedal pressure.
Don't worry, you can continue to brake at the same rate as the Clio RS keeps the line without any problems.
Formula 1 video game
Returning to the pitlane, the video game effect returns to the protagonist. L 'RS Monitor (250 euros) this one telemetry inspired by F1.
Driving and performance analysis based on satellite imagery from Google Mapsthat are superimposed on the vehicle parameters (throttle, brake, lateral acceleration, etc.) are written to a USB stick and can then be downloaded from the website http://rsreplay.renaultsport.fr.
In addition, lap times, cross and longitudinal diagrams g, up to acceleration times and brake pressure can be viewed in the center display.
The last "game" is the game Launch control, standard. As with the GP's starting grid, the electronics provide maximum performance: left foot on the brake, right foot on the gas, and when the brakes are released, the chips shoot the Clio forward with all the nasty things it needs to work with. to be capable of.
Okay, the RS won't be the special stage and hot lap beast it used to be, but it continues to be fun and fast like some other front-wheel drive cars. And not only…
