2007 Clio Renaultsport Mk III hot hatchback

2007 Clio Renaultsport Mk III hot hatchback

The 2007 Clio Renaultsport Mk III hot hatchback that was first revealed during the 2006 Geneva Motor Show will go on sale in a matter of weeks reaching the dealerships by the end of the month.

This little wolf in a sheep’s cloth will boast a 2.0-liter engine with power output increased to 197bhp.

2007 Clio Renaultsport Mk III (rear view)

Being installed within the 1240 kg body the engine accelerates the Clio Renaultsport from 0 to 60mph in just 6.9 seconds and provides for top speed of about 134mph.

The engine is mated to an all-new close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox. Of course, there is also a number of purely cosmetic additions, including a set of larger tail pipes, an F1-style front air splitter, and a rear air diffuser.

The car will come to dealers by the end of March and will cost about ВЈ16,000. So, it’s not only fast but pretty cheap, too.

And this is a good thing considering the fact that the little car will have to fight its way through a crowd of such bitter rivals as the Seat Ibiza, BMW 1-Series, Mini Cooper S and, last but not least, Peugeot 207 Super 2000 (well, this one is not even street legal but I like the little bastard.)

The only problem with this Clio is that there is not enough space in it to put a spare tire so you will always have to carry an aerosol kit and pray that there is no broken glass and rusty nails on the road.

Photos: Renault

2007 Clio Renaultsport Mk III technical specifications

Body Type: 2-door hatchback
Layout: front engine, FWD
Engine: 197 PS @ 7250 rpm, 215 Nm @ 5550 rpm, 2.0-liter, inline-4, 16-valve
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
Top Speed: 134 mph (215 km/h)
0 – 62 mph: 6.9 seconds
Fuel Economy EPA combined cycle mpg (l/100 km): 26.4 (8.9)
Exterior Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 3986 mm (157 in) / 1707 mm (67 in) / 1497 mm (59 in) / 2451 mm (96 in)
Ground clearance: N/A
Track (frt/rr): N/A / N/A
Curb to curb turning circle (feet): 36.4 (11.1 m)
Curb Weight: 1240 kg
Coefficient of Drag (Cd): N/A
Seating Capacity: 5 (2/2+1)
Cargo Volume (seats DO NOT fold): N/A
Payload (max w/ occupants and cargo): N/A
Towing Capacity (max): N/A
Direct Competitors: Seat Ibiza, BMW 1-Series, Mini Cooper S, Peugeot 207 Super 2000

See also: 2007 Nissan 350Z prices announced