A daring Clio dedicated to driving pleasure, Renault starts selling
the exclusive Clio Renault Sport V6 in November 2000
Presented
as a preview at the Mondial de l’Automobile 1998 in the form of a
study derived from the competition-only "Trophy" version, the Clio
Renault Sport V6 will go on sale in November 2000. A project begun
and overseen by Renault Sport, the Clio Renault Sport V6 has been
developed and assembled in partnership with TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing),
which will also be responsible for assembling the car in low-volume
series from parts supplied by Renault. The project has thus benefitted
from the expertise of two major players in motor sport. Strictly a
two-seater, with its engine positioned mid-rear, with a design which
evokes sportiness and a V6 3-litre 24-valve engine of 230bhp driving
through a 6-speed gearbox, the Clio Renault Sport V6 is a unique vehicle.
This extraordinary Clio, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h
in 6.4 seconds, is aimed at a body of demanding and enthusiastic customers
who are looking for a distinctive and powerful vehicle which combines
driving pleasure with comfort. Its price has been set at FRF 240,000.
A real best-seller since its introduction in 1990, Clio has not finished
astonishing its audience. Faced with extremely tough competition,
Clio has remained consistently among the front-runners in French and
European sales. The Clio 2 now broadens its appeal with the development
of versions dedicated to driving enjoyment and carrying the Renault
Sport badge. Through its use of this badge, Renault daringly expresses
the sporting spirit that runs in the company’s blood, combining mechanical
performance, travelling pleasure and driving enjoyment. Following
the sporting 2.0 16V of 172bhp, an exclusive Grand Touring version
with a V6 engine transversely installed in the mid-rear position now
arrives as the pinnacle of the range.
The Clio Renault Sport V6 is a unique car of passion, unique, a member
of the "exclusive" sporting models, the coupés, cabriolets
and roadsters. This breed of cars with a strong personality notably
includes the Audi TT 1.8T 20V Quattro, the BMW Z3 Coupé 2.7,
the Mercedes SLK 230, the Porsche Boxter 2.7 and the Honda S2000.
In 1999 these models achieved sales of 836 units in France and 18,732
in Europe. In the first 5 months of 2000, their sales had already
topped these figures with 1,086 and 24,314 units in France and Europe
respectively.
The dynamism of this market niche is explained by the desire of an
increasing number of drivers to travel "differently", at the wheel
of fun cars with the emphasis on driving enjoyment. The product offer
is following this tendency and is full of developments and novelties.
Inspired by F1
Making a surprise appearance at the 1998 Mondial de l'Automobile,
the Clio Renault Sport V6 was one of the stars of the Renault stand.
Presented as a realistic study based on the Clio Renault Sport V6
Trophy, a model intended for circuit competition, this road-going
version immediately attracted the attention of the media and of a
wide public of enthusiasts and car admirers.
Following the evident success of this model initiated by Renault
Sport, Renault quickly began a development and manufacturing study.
Entrusted to the TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing) company, based in England,
this study confirmed the manufacturing feasibility of the project
in accordance with a specification laid down by Renault, in terms
of quality, safety, and the highest level of road-going behaviour
and equipment.
Similarly to the image of Renault Sport, TWR is a well-known specialist
in motor sport and notably in F1 with the Arrows team. In addition
to this involvement in motor sport, TWR was able to exploit its know-how
in the area of Grand Touring vehicle development and production (Jaguar
XJ 220, Aston Martin DB7, Volvo C70...).
Renault’s objective was to develop the Clio Renault Sport V6 and
put it into production in an extremely short time (18 months). TWR,
with its engineering abilities and its production facilities perfectly
adapted to the manufacture of low-volume vehicles, responded totally
to this need.
The project depended on TWR’s considerable data processing capacity
for modelling (structure, cooling, deformation in the event of impact…)
but also for visualisation, thanks to a virtual-image studio, and
involved up to 100 experts including 60 engineers.
Cars hand-built in the TWR workshops
The manufacturing process follows this logistic arrangement: the
Douvrin factory (Française de Mécanique PSA - Renault)
supplies the engines, the Renault factories at Cléon and Flins
respectively the gearboxes and the body in white with its hinged attachments.
The Grand Couronne site collects and delivers those parts from the
range which are not specific to the Clio Renault Sport V6.
All the necessary bodywork modifications, and then final assembly,
are carried out by hand on the TWR site at Uddevalla in Sweden by
highly qualified technicians. This organisation ensures exemplary
build quality. Each of the 12 cars produced each day is thus treated
as a unique example.
A strong design, evocative of dynamism and sportiness, an expression
of driving enjoyment
Renault’s designers have given this car a unique style, expressing
its philosophy: playful and powerful, but also civilised and accomplished.
A thoroughbred, the Clio Renault Sport V6 asserts its sporting temperament
and suggests driving enjoyment. Wider (+ 171 mm) and lower (- 66 mm)
than a "standard" Clio, standing on 17-inch wheels at its extreme
corners, the Clio Renault Sport V6 truly hugs the road.
Although the body shell, bonnet panel, roof and rear hatch are taken
from the Clio Renault Sport 2.0 16V, the bumpers as well as the front
and rear wings are specific, while the sill panels and body sides
are provided with composite covers. These body-coloured special parts
are completely integrated into the car’s design and endow it with
a sporting appearance.
Borrowed from the world of competition, the design of these parts
also contributes to the efficiency of the vehicle by improving aerodynamics
and cooling. The wide front spoiler together with the discreet spoiler
above the rear hatch increase downforce and therefore roadholding.
The heavily perforated front bumper admits air to the radiator, while
the widened front wings reflect the appearance of F1 side pods, with
integral air intakes to ventilate the engine compartment. The left-hand
intake is also connected to the induction system and assumes the role
of dynamic air intake.
Other sports-type features include the fuel filler cap, the twin
round stainless steel exhaust pipes emerging from the centre of the
rear bumper, the honeycomb grilles around the rear silencers, the
front foglamps and the cooling air intakes in the front bumper.
Luxurious interior treatment
The cabin interior of the Clio Renault Sport V6 benefits from the
same luxurious treatment as that of the Clio Renault Sport 2.0 16V,
with a combination of leather and alcantara in blending shades of
blue for the seat upholstery and interior trim. The driving position
is also equipped with a leather-trimmed steering wheel with raised
anti-slip finish, and the dashboard has the same white-faced dials
found in the Clio Renault Sport 2.0 16V. The specially designed gear
lever with its massive aluminium knob is provided with an extension
to bring it closer to the steering wheel and position it better for
sporting driving. The lever emerges from an aluminium console with
the same circular design as the fuel filler cap. The pedals are specially
designed for sporting driving and have aluminium plates with anti-slip
inserts.
This luxurious treatment of the cabin interior is accompanied by
one of the most complete equipment lists. All comfort and appearance
features are fitted as standard (air conditioning plus heat-reflective
windscreen and tinted glass, electric windows, remote control central
locking, power assisted steering, Radiosat 6000 6-CD changer). The
only available accessory is a baggage protection cover specially designed
for the Clio Renault Sport V6.
The Clio Renault Sport V6 is provided with a 45-litre stowage space
with retaining net between the backs of the seats and the engine compartment,
as well as a 67-litre luggage compartment under the front bonnet panel.
A unique layout, combining efficiency and safety
The
Clio Renault Sport V6 is provided with a unique layout for a compact
sports model with a 3-litre V6 24-valve engine, driving through a
6-speed gearbox, transversely mounted in the mid-rear position. This
choice of layout optimises compactness and static balance, and improves
dynamic performance. The development of the chassis has been jointly
undertaken by two F1 specialists, TWR and Renault Sport, to ensure
stability and steering and handling precision.
The installation of the engine and transmission assembly in a transverse
mid-rear position necessitated a complete redesign of the Clio 2 chassis.
New structural members were added to increase the stiffness of the
body shell and to provide new mounting points both for the powertrain
and the suspension units. The rear structure is entirely specific
with new spring turrets, a lower subframe carrying the rear suspension,
and an upper section allowing the pendular mounting of the powertrain.
The original front sub-frame of the Clio Renault Sport 2.0 16V is
modified and provided with a strengthening X-member.
The front and rear suspensions are specific, although they include
several parts taken from other cars in the Renault range. The front
suspension geometry remains MacPherson-type but takes the anti-roll
bar from the Clio Trophy. The multi-link type rear suspension, with
aluminium transverse member, includes a wheel alignment adjustment
link which allows the suspension geometry to be reset.
The 38mm increase in wheelbase, and widening of the front track by
110mm and the rear track by 138mm, places the wheels at the four corners
of the car, ensuring its balance and extremely good dynamic behaviour.
The calibration of the dampers and the choice of spring rates guarantees
comfort and dynamic behaviour worthy of a Grand Touring car. The 17-inch
OZ "Superturismo" light alloy wheels are shod with Michelin Pilot
Sport tyres, with dimensions 205/50 at the front and 235/45 at the
rear. The structure of the tyre has been specially developed to fully
exploit the potential of the Clio Renault Sport V6 chassis. These
adaptations provide the Clio Renault Sport V6 with the highest standards
of behaviour, with a highly effective chassis which is none the less
easy to exploit. The balance between the effectiveness of the chassis
and the available power output is one of the main elements in creating
the driving enjoyment of the Clio Renault Sport V6.
The braking system responds to the active safety needs of a car with
a sporting character. It includes four ventilated disc brakes, 330mm
in diameter at the front and 300mm at the rear, with separate front/rear
double circuits assisted by twin 7’’/8’’ servo units. Generously dimensioned,
the Clio Renault Sport V6 braking system is notable for its response
and its fade resistance.
Developed for competition, the 4-piston AP Racing front calipers
are used for the first time in a "production" car. They are notable
for their lightness and for their exceptional resistance to heating,
thanks to external high-pressure hydraulic lines which ensure optimum
cooling of the brake fluid. The 4-sensor Bosch 5.3 ABS already used
on some sports models completes the configuration of the Clio Renault
Sport V6 braking system.
Passive safety of the highest level
The developments applied to the structure allow the Clio Renault
Sport V6 to comply with the most severe requirements in terms of passive
safety. The reinforcements have been positioned so that the loads
resulting from an impact pass through the body sides, thus preserving
the cabin interior space. Computer simulations, followed by crash
tests have confirmed the excellent structural strength of the Clio
Renault Sport V6.
In addition to this improved passive safety, the Clio Renault Sport
V6 carries over all the passive safety equipment common to the Clio
range. It is equipped with the Renault System for Restraint and Protection
(SRP) comprising the latest generation of occupant restraint systems:
programmed restraint safety belts with pretensioners and 400daN load
limiters, twin controlled-deflation front airbags, and head/thorax
side airbags. Close-contact head restraints complete the safety equipment.
First-rate powertrains with a specially developed version of the 3.0
V6 24V engine plus a new 6-speed manual gearbox
The
Clio Renault Sport V6 was built around the 3.0 V6 24V engine (L7X
210bhp). Installed tranversely in the mid-rear position, it delivers
230bhp (+20bhp by comparison with the standard engine) following special
development carried out with the help of the engine experts at Renault
Sport. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a new 6-speed manual
gearbox, the "PK6".
This powertrain provides all the driving pleasure appropriate to
a Grand Touring car, with a flexible yet powerful engine, delivering
the feeling of acceleration even from the lowest speeds. The high
torque, exploited in optimum fashion by the 6-speed gearbox, results
in generous and lively response over a wide speed range, enabling
the efficiency of the chassis to be fully utilised. The good all-round
qualities of the Clio Renault Sport V6 account for its excellent performance
with a top speed of 235 km/h, 6.4 seconds to accelerate from 0 to
100 km/h and 26.5 seconds for the 1,000 m standing start.
The engine specialists at Renault Sport made many changes to improve
performance while retaining ease of driving. Developed in less than
10 months, this version of the 3.0 V6 24V in notable for the application
of changes to the induction, pistons and injection, which have enabled
the output to be raised to 230bhp at 6,000rpm with a maximum torque
of 300Nm at 3,750rpm (compared with 210bhp at 6,000rpm and 285Nm at
3,750rpm), while continuing to comply with the Euro 3 (Euro 2000)
emission standards.
The engine specialists achieved the gain in power by increasing the
compression ratio and improving the gas flow within the induction
and exhaust systems. The more open induction and the special stainless-steel
exhaust system also result in an agreeably sporting sound quality.
Variable inlet valve timing with two camshaft variators (one per cylinder
bank) allows the engine to work with two different valve timings according
to operating condition, while the standard motorised throttle valve
of the the V6 is retained. The main changes are as follows:
- the pistons are specific. They embody:
- a different shaped crown which results in a higher compression
ratio (11.4 instead of 10.9) while maintaining combustion quality
- a redesigned skirt to take account of the increased performance
and to reduce friction
- a surface treatment, down to the first ring, to withstand the
higher temperature at ring level due at high load
- to improve the engine’s breathing, the cylinder head inlet ports
were reworked:
- the port cross-section is increased by 4%
- the surface finish is improved
- alignment of the head and inlet manifold has been optimised
- the speed limiter setting has been increased by 500rpm, rising
from 6,600rpm to 7,100rpm. This 500rpm increase allows higher speeds
to be achieved in each gear before changing up
- the specially developed exhaust system reduces back-pressure
at the engine exhaust ports. Its symmetrical form, as well as the
unique high-volume silencers result in better performance and a more
pleasant sound
- the engine flywheel is lightened in order to enhance the speed
of engine response
- fitting of spark plugs with a colder rating to take account
of higher operating temperatures
- improved engine lubrication through the use of a semi-synthetic
5W/40 oil and the addition of a coolant/oil heat exchanger
Cooling was especially carefully developed, with a radiator of generous
capacity. Apart from the scoops on each side of the car, the fairings
beneath the body were also designed to assist ventilation of the entire
powertrain assembly.
A new 6-speed manual gearbox
The Clio Renault Sport V6 is fitted with the new 6-speed manual gearbox
known as the "PK6". With short selector movements and great precision
of operation, the "PK6" provides the characteristics of a sports gearbox
combined with high comfort, thanks to the low selector effort and
good filtration of vibrations. The 6th speed makes long journeys more
pleasant by reducing both noise levels and fuel consumption.
It should be recalled that this new "PK6" gearbox is basically a
reworking of an existing 5-speed unit but equipped with a completely
new internal control mechanism. The selector forks are mounted either
on Teflon-coated bushes or on needle bearings. Selector precision
is improved, while selector effort is reduced by 30% and lever movement
by 15%. Mechanical friction losses, meanwhile, are reduced by 20%.
As a measure of its technical performance, the new PK 6 gearbox weighs
2kg less than the previous 5-speed unit from which it was developed,
while it is sufficiently compact to allow its installation with the
transverse V6 engine in the Clio Renault Sport V6.
The cable gear selector mechanism in the Clio Renault Sport V6 benefits
from filtering elements which achieve a good compromise between filtration
of vibrations and the feeling of control. Also for ease of use, an
LuK clutch allows excitation of the gearbox by the engine to be limited
through the use of a "flexible" attachment, and to maintain the clutch
operating point and effort constant thanks to a specially developed
mechanism.
The price of exclusiveness
The Clio Renault Sport V6 will go on sale in November at a price
of FRF 240,000.
