Renault Sport: all Clio engines, from 1993 to 2018

Most of the popular “small bombs” of the last 20 years were and still are small cars equipped with a bigger and more powerful engine, often simply carried over from higher segment models. But there was one car where that was almost never the case: the Renault Clio.

Under its hood there have mainly been four-cylinder engines, developed and custom-tuned by the brand’s sports department, but there have also been versions that today might seem a bit absurd.

Renault Clio Williams (1993 to 1996)

The sports Clio dynasty began in 1993, with what would remain today as one of the “legends” of the diamond manufacturer. It was not yet branded Renault Sport, or even by Alpine like some of its predecessors, but the Clio Williams preferred to pay tribute to the F1 team to which Renault supplied the engines, while referring to single-seaters with this livery. blue and gold.

Renault Clio Williams (1993)

Renault Clio Williams engines

This model, which ranks above the 137 hp 1.8-litre 16V of the time, will also go down in history as the first city car with a 2.0-litre engine. Production officially ended in 1994, but for markets like Italy for example, it continued until 1996. 

• Clio Williams 2.0 liters: 147 hp, 215 km/h, 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds

Renault Clio RS (2000 to 2006)

With the second generation of Clio, the sports team, renamed Renault Sport in the meantime, moved up a gear: it took over the engine from the Clio Williams, but entrusted it to its sports subsidiary, which overhauled it in depth.

Renault Clio II RS (2000)

This first version made its debut in 2000 and had a power of 172 hp for a torque of 200 Nm. In 2004, a few years after the restyling of the Clio range, the version known to enthusiasts as the “182” , due to its power of 182 hp, is born. Torque remains at 200 Nm, but is obtained at a slightly lower rpm.

• 2.0-litre Clio RS: 172 hp, 220 km/h, 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds
• 2.0-litre Clio RS: 182 hp, 222 km/h, 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds

Renault Clio II RS (2003)

Renault Clio II RS (2004) engines

Renault Clio V6 (2000 to 2005)

Alongside the Clio RS, Renault also developed a second sporty variant of the Clio: this had a very different layout which echoed the legendary R5 Turbo, i.e. with a rear-mounted engine . The block is a naturally aspirated 3.0-litre V6 derived from the six-cylinder developed by Renault and PSA. This was fitted in particular to the Laguna and various other models from Peugeot and Citroen.

For the Clio V6, it is extensively revised by TWR. Modifications are plentiful, ranging from new pistons to revised cooling and intake systems, boosting horsepower from the original 207 bhp to 230.

Renault Clio II V6 (2000)

Renault Clio II V6 (2000)

En 2003 arrive une nouvelle version qui reprend les elements de restylage observes deux ans plus tot sur les autres Clio, ainsi qu’une version amelioree du moteur avec des modifications directement amenees par Renault Sport. Il developpe une puissance de 255 ch et le meme couple de 300 Nm delivre, toutefois, a un regime plus eleve.

• Clio V6 3,0 litres : 230 ch, 235 km/h, 0 a 100 km/h en 6,4 secondes
• Clio V6 3,0 litres : 255 ch, 245 km/h, 0 a 100 km/h en 5,8 secondes

Renault Clio II V6 (2003)

Sous le “capot” de la Renault Clio V6

Renault Clio R.S. (2006 a 2012)

The third generation of Clio brings the French city car into a new era, but the RS version plays the card of continuity: it retains its 2.0-litre four-cylinder 197 hp, but it loses performance because of its weight in rise.

Renault Clio III R.S. (2006)

This series offers many special versions, including the R27 F1 Team which echoes the Formula 1 team. maximum again exceeds 220 km/h.

• 2.0-litre Clio RS: 197 hp, 215 km/h, 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds
• 2.0-litre Clio RS: 203 hp, 222 km/h, 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds

Renault Clio III R.S. (2009)

Renault Clio III RS (2009) engines

La derniere Renault Clio RS

The fourth generation of the Clio arrived in 2012 and adopted a number of revolutions, including the removal of the three-door body. The RS, which made its debut in 2013, therefore had the right for the first time to a five-door variant, but had in return a lighter platform to compensate for this weight gain.

However, it has a less “racing” spirit than its predecessors, even if it is equipped for the first time with a turbocharged engine and an automatic transmission.

Renault Clio IV R.S. 200 (2013)

The engines of the Renault Clio IV RS 200 (2013)

The car is powered by a 1.6 liter direct injection engine borrowed from Nissan also found in models like the Juke Nismo, with 200hp and 240Nm of torque, paired with an EDC dual clutch gearbox . Performance on paper is good, but it’s a little too “refined” for many fans of the model. The 220 hp version, presented as a special edition in 2015, with an additional 20 hp and a Trophy chassis, corrects the situation.

Renault Clio IV R.S. 220 EDC Trophy (2015)

The engine of the Renault Clio IV RS EDC 220 Trophy (2015)

It is the very last sports Renault Clio, even if a final version will be presented by the manufacturer in 2016. This is the Clio RS 16, manufactured to celebrate the 40 years of the brand’s sports department and equipped with the 2, 0 liter turbo 275 hp from the Megane RS Unfortunately, this model will only remain at the concept car stage.

• Clio RS 1.6 liter EDC: 200 hp, 230 km/h, 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds
• Clio RS 1.6 liter EDC 220 Trophy: 220 hp, 235 km/h, 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds

Renault Clio R.S. 16 Concept