Much to the delight of the fans of affordable circuit-racers, Renault announced the launch of the new Clio Cup. Based on the latest generation RenaultSport Clio, the car boasts enhanced aerodynamics and specifications. And at 39,900 Euros, it sounds like an outright bargain.
The Clio Renaultsport Cup features a steel body shell reinforced with a welded roll cage, which is not only a safety feature, it makes the whole car more rigid and strong. The car gets a bespoke aerodynamic kit and 17-inch rims as well.
The engine powering the Clio Cup is a busy little 1.6 liter turbocharged and direct injection four-banger that develops 220 horsepower and 270 m of torque. Given the fact that the car weighs only 1065 kg, even with a full tank of fuel (40 liters), the Cup is pretty fast and agile.
The power is channeled to the front wheels via a Sadev ST82-17 six-speed sequential with steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters and a Sadev 23/90 self-locking limited-slip differential featuring an AP Racing clutch.
The suspension system consists of Pseudo-McPherson one-way adjustable ZF Race Engineering shock absorber up front, and ZF Race Engineering shock absorber with programmed flexible axle/torsion beam. Brakes are a blend of AP Racing and Brembo components, and as for the tires, you can choose between Michelin 20-61×17 and Dunlop 21-62 x17.
The well-priced Clio Cup is a great little race car for local and national competitions. It is also a fabulous toy; a pure, full-blooded track car to enjoy on weekends.
