Clio R.S.16: A new concept car to showcase Renault Sport’s expertise
- Concept car celebrates Renault Sport’s 40th anniversary and return to Formula 1
- Clio R.S. 16 grafts the Renault range’s highest-performing engine into a Renault Clio and features the colours of the 2016 R.S. 16 F1 single-seater
- Clio R.S. 16 to be unveiled at the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix
- Press Kit on Clio R.S. 16 available to download
Renault Sport have unveiled a new concept car on the streets of Monaco’s famous Grand Prix circuit today driven by Renault Sport Formula One Team’s Kevin Magnussen. The Clio R.S.16 is the highest performance Renault Sport road-going vehicle ever and its reveal in 2016 celebrates both 40 years of Renault Sport and Renault’s return to Formula One as a constructor.
Developed in record time
“Our aim was to produce a concept car with genuinely outstanding performance credentials,” notes Patrice Ratti, Managing Director of Renault Sport Cars, leader of the project which particularly inspired the development team’s specialists. “On paper, producing a Clio R.S. powered by our most potent engine – namely the 275-horsepower two-litre power unit which delivers peak torque of 360Nm – was an extremely appealing idea, but we had to make sure it was feasible.”
Thanks to new working procedures involving teams from the worlds of motorsport and road cars, the development of the highest-performance road-going Renault Sport car ever took just five months from start to finish.
A variety of technical challenges
Finding the ideal way to house the engine, transmission and cooling system of the Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy-R was a significant challenge. The exhaust system was also revised as a function of the engine’s potential, while the suspension was engineered to match the car’s outstanding performance characteristics. Careful attention was paid to the sound produced by the car, too, and an Akrapovič twin exhaust system was selected.
Performance-led design
The design and development team dealt successfully with the constraints inherent in the Clio R.S. 16 project (body widened by 60mm, 19-inch wheels and optimisation of the engine cooling system) to produce an expressive, sporty stance. The result is enhanced by an LED R.S. VISION chequered-pattern lighting signature featuring exclusive multi-faceted reflector technology.
Renault Sport’s trademark Liquid Yellow has been combined with gloss black details to mirror the livery of Renault Sport Formula One Team’s R.S.16 F1 single-seaters.
After today’s first public airing in the streets of Monaco, the car’s next official appearance will be the Goodwood Festival of Speed on June 23-26.
Full details on the Clio R.S.16 concept car are available in the press kit.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Further images of the vehicle, taken at the Monaco Grand Prix circuit on Friday 27 May, will be available Monday 30 May.
For further information please visit www.press.renault.co.uk or @RenaultUKPR or contact:
Jeremy Townsend
Communications Director
jeremy.townsend@renault.co.uk – 01923 697592 – 07977 289327
Matthew Bendall
Press Relations Manager
matthew.bendall@renault.co.uk – 01923 697653 – 07814 990247
Chloe Yemm
Press Officer
chloe.yemm@renault.co.uk – 01923 697342 – 07773 048531
Lisa Haworth-Langford
Press Fleet & Events Manager
lisa.haworth-langford@renault.co.uk – 01923 697537 – 07968 128886
Sam Pinder
Press Relations Coordinator
sam.pinder@renault.co.uk - 01923 697778
Libby Watts
Communications Assistant
libby.watts@renault.co.uk – 01923 697363
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