Alex Unleashed on Cars- Renaultsport Clio V6 (The Beast From Dieppe)

The 90s were a quiet period for hot hatchbacks, after sky high insurance premiums killed off the likes of the Escort Cosworth and Delta Integrale, manufacturers made their cars more understated and milder compared to what had come before. Except Renault, who decided to shoehorn a 3 litre V6 from the Laguna into a Clio to create the ultimate hot hatchback.

The Clio V6 was first made as a race car with it being the successor to the Sport Spider one-make series. With road cars being made afterwards. The early Phase 1 cars ('00- spring '03) were made with help from TWR who’d been behind all of Jaguar’s racing efforts and the Nissan R390 GT1. The car itself would be made in the same Swedish factory as the Volvo C70 which was also made with help from TWR. The later Phase 2 cars as they’re known (summer '03 – '05) were made solely by Renault in France with a little help from Porsche tuning the engine.

Now Renault had done a similar trick before, sticking an enormous Garret turbo into the old Renault 5 to make the 5 Turbo back in the early 80s and the Clio V6 followed a similar process in that the car had to be heavily re-engineered with the body was widened and lower along with being converted to rear-wheel drive to cope with the power of the V6 engine which was right behind the driver making the Clio closer to a sports car than a hatchback as practicality is minimal and the turning circle is woeful. But, more importantly, with over 220 BHP the Clio V6 was faster than any hot hatch around, it could even go toe-to-toe with full on sports cars like the Porsche Boxster S, but being such a highly re-engineered car it was also much more expensive than your typical hot hatch, £25,995 put the Clio V6 in Subaru Impreza territory and a whole 10k more than a Clio 172.

Naturally, a car that’s as short as the Clio V6 is with an engine effectively over the rear axle was always going to make a car with interesting handling characteristics. Whilst traction and grip are plentiful thanks to the engine being as far back as it is, it is not an easy car to catch if things go wrong, if anything, the Clio V6 is closer to an early Porsche 911, so, going slow through the corners to avoid understeer and then use the traction provided by it’s setup to then howl down the straights is the best way to get the most out of this car. The later phase 2 cars had a longer wheelbase and some other modifications to make it more usable on the road and track whilst also being faster than before, only Alfa’s equally bold 147 GTA can keep up with the Clio V6’s top speed of 153 MPH and 0-60 in 5.8 seconds, but in the corners, where a 147 would understeer badly, a Clio V6 has the grip to stay steady provided it isn't pushed beyond the limit.

Overall, the Clio V6 was an interesting car from a time where on the one hand Renault focussed in on safety yet also gave us cars like the Vel Satis and Avantime, cars that can’t really be pigeon holed, though I’d say the Clio V6, once Renault got their act together was definitely one of the best cars they ever made, mad, crazy and an incredibly likable car. 

Years Made: 2001-2005

Engine: 3 Litre V6

Top Speed: 150-153 MPH

0-60: 6-5.8 Seconds

Power: 227 – 252 BHP

Torque: 221 Ib/ft

Weight: 1355 KG – 1400 KG

Rivals: Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, Subaru Impreza WRX, Audi S3, Nissan 350Z, Mitsubishi EVO