The all-new Renaultsport Clio has been previewed for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. A prototype version of the French firm’s next hot hatch was driven up the hillclimb by Renault’s chief operating officer Carlos Tavares in the Festival’s ‘First Glance’ section.
Power for the new Renaultsport Clio is expected to come from a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with around 200bhp. The switch to smaller capacity turbo power means the end of for the current car’s famed high-revving normally aspirated 2.0-litre unit.
A dual-clutch gearbox featured on the Goodwood prototype, but a manual option is still expected to remain.
Like the standard car due to be unveiled by Renault next week, the Renaultsport version will be five-door only. Design chief Laurens van den Acker has promised the design will have the look of a three-door due to the swoopy rear section and rear door handles hidden in the C-pillars.
The new Renaultsport Clio will be officially unveiled at the Paris motor show in September. A racing version is also planned to compete in the various European Clio Cup race series.
