AUSTRALIANS are spoiled for choice in ‘C’ segment small-car hot hatches, so where are all the iconic babies such as Peugeot’s seminal 205 GTi? Back in the 1980s and early 1990s – that’s where, before safety legislation and the weight of consumer expectations for gadgets and refinement forced car-makers to build ever-larger and heavier successors. And, really, the latest Renault Clio Renaultsport is no different. Or, at least, that’s what it might seem like on paper or after a brief drive. Live with RS 197 for a while, though, and you will see that this model has lost virtually none of its predecessor’s joie de vivre...
The Road to Recovery podcast series

Renault X65 Clio II Phase II Renaultsport 182
Released: Sep 2004
Ended: Oct 2006
Family Tree: ClioMUCH loved for its mighty-mouse performance and super-eager handling, this mouthful-of-a-hot-hatch is already a collector’s item, thanks in part to a superb power-to-weight ratio of 127kW/tonne, mated to a 1035kg lightweight body that oozed flair and practicality. Mated to a five-speed manual, the 131kW/200Nm 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder petrol unit provides hours of gokart-like fun, and great economy to boot. High equipment and safety levels and a sizeable interior top off one of the 21st Century’s early greats.
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