Five Renault Sport cars to remember

Renault changes course and after building the last Mégane RS Ultime only offers sporty models with an Alpine badge on it. So you no longer have to expect extra hot Renaults, although Alpine – which is a sub-brand of Renault – will also offer sporty versions of Renaults in addition to its own models. For example, it has already been confirmed that there will also be an Alpine of the forthcoming new Renault 5. Not under the Renault brand name (for example Renault 5 Alpine), but as an Alpine model.

Renault Sport therefore disappears, but not without leaving something behind. Since 1976, the sporty branch has produced many extra fast Renaults, five of which we will now highlight. As far as we are concerned, these five are definitely worth remembering, while we can imagine that you as a reader might think differently. So let us know in the comments which Renault Sport product you approve of.

1: Renault Sport Spider

The car that cannot be missed in this list is the Renault Sport Spider. That car, which could be supplied with or without a windscreen, was one in the spirit of the Lotus Elise with its aluminum chassis and low weight. An atmospheric two-liter engine placed behind the two seats provided the drive, good for 150 hp. At a car weight of 930 kg, that power source guaranteed great fun, if you were lucky enough to own a Sport Spider. Renault Sport built only about 1,800 copies of the Spider between 1996 and 1999.

2: Renault Clio II RS 182 Trophy

Second place in this list is for the version of the second generation Clio that is seen as one of the best hot hatches ever: the 182 Trophy. That was a 182 Cup based and limited version for the British and Swiss market, which received all the ‘correct’ parts of the various Clio RS versions of that generation and a few extras. A 182 hp two-liter sixteen-valve, Speedline wheels, a more refined (and more expensive) chassis than that of the Cup and the spoiler of the Clio V6: everything was there. In 2005, the British journal fell in love with its driving characteristics.

3: Renault Mégane RS R26.R

The last Mégane RS may be called ‘Ultime’, the two previous generations of which there were RS versions, could also do something about it. Peak Megane RS we might find that in the first iteration, because the R26.R was released in 2009: the Porsche GT3 RS among the Renaults. That car was an impressive 123 kg lighter than the already not-nauseous ‘regular’ R26, thanks to carbon fiber parts and the lack of a rear seat, virtually all airbags, soundproofing and another slew of parts that you would find on a car of that era. just expected. The Mégane, weighing only about 1,230 kg with 230 hp and an uncompromising chassis, loved the Nürburgring raw.

4: Renault Clio RS V6

One car that ended up being much less of a ‘driver’s car’ than it was no doubt initially intended was the Renault Clio RS V6 – often referred to simply as ‘Clio V6’. Both the pre-facelift and facelift Clio II came with a V6, with the later version being slightly less artful than the first. Both are known to be quite fickle at the limit due to their short wheelbase in combination with a midship placed and unusually large engine. Still, we look back with a smile on the Clio V6: in this day and age – unfortunately – no manufacturer would be so crazy to put a V6 in the back of a B-segmenter, let alone model such a heavily developed bodywork around it. Amazing, right?

5: Renault Twingo RS

Without a doubt less great: the Renault Twingo RS. That car doesn’t make it to the four cars above, but because it was an incredibly powerful A-segmenter, it still gets a place in the list. Coincidentally, this week we said goodbye to another A-segment hot hatch, the Volkswagen Up GTI. For a Twingo RS that is in any case no match on paper, because the Twingo with 133 hp from a 1.6-liter amply exceeds the turbo one liter (115 hp) of the Up. And that in 2008! There was never a more powerful A-segmenter from the factory, so the Twingo RS can close this list.

Bonus: Renault Sandero RS

Although, we don’t want to withhold this bonus from you. There was also a Renault Sport product based on a Dacia, in the form of the Renault Sandero RS! Admittedly, the then Dacia Sandero already wore a Renault badge on the South American market anyway, so this is actually ‘just’ a Renault RS. The Renault Sandero RS was a 145 hp Sandero with a two-liter and a sportier chassis for the South American market. And because we only know Dacia here from the completely unpretentious cars, we will mention it anyway. Don’t mention it!