Renault Clio V6 Renault Sport
The Renault Clio V6 Renault Sport was a limited-production, rear-mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive version of the Renault Clio II. It used a naturally aspirated 2.9-liter V6 mounted behind the front seats, a six-speed manual transmission, widened bodywork, and a two-seat cabin layout.
Why It Matters
The Clio V6 is significant because Renault converted a front-engine, front-wheel-drive supermini platform into a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive two-seat performance car. Unlike most hot hatches, the Clio V6 did not retain the original front-mounted powertrain layout. The rear seat area was replaced by the engine installation, and the car received wider bodywork, revised suspension, larger brakes, and specific structural changes.
The model also connects Renault’s road-car performance history to earlier rear-mid-engine Renault hatchbacks, most notably the Renault 5 Turbo. Phase 1 cars were assembled by Tom Walkinshaw Racing in Sweden, while Phase 2 cars were assembled by Renault Sport / Alpine in Dieppe, France.
Core Specifications
| Model | Renault Clio V6 Renault Sport |
|---|---|
| Model Years | 2001–2005 |
| Generations / Phases | Phase 1 and Phase 2 |
| Market | Primarily Europe; also sold in selected export markets including Japan as the Renault Lutécia Sport V6 |
| Assembly | Phase 1: TWR, Uddevalla, Sweden; Phase 2: Renault Sport / Alpine, Dieppe, France |
| Body Style | Three-door hatchback, two-seat configuration |
| Layout | Rear-mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Engine | 2,946 cc naturally aspirated 24-valve V6 |
| Engine Family | PSA / Renault L7X V6 |
| Block / Head | Aluminum block, aluminum cylinder heads |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Phase 1 Output | Approximately 230 bhp at 6,000 rpm; 221 lb-ft at 3,750 rpm |
| Phase 2 Output | Approximately 255 PS / 252–254 hp at 7,150 rpm; 221 lb-ft / 300 Nm at 4,650 rpm |
| Phase 1 Curb Weight | Approximately 1,335–1,355 kg, depending on source and specification |
| Phase 2 Curb Weight | Approximately 1,400 kg |
| Phase 1 Claimed Performance | 0–62 mph in approximately 6.4 seconds; top speed approximately 147 mph |
| Phase 2 Claimed Performance | 0–62 mph in approximately 5.8 seconds; top speed approximately 153–155 mph |
Figures vary slightly between factory, market, and reference sources. Phase 2 is commonly identified by its 255 PS engine rating and revised chassis settings.
Engineering Character
Rear-Mid-Engine Layout
The V6 engine was mounted behind the front seats rather than in the front engine bay. This layout moved the car away from the conventional hot-hatch format and created a rear-biased mass distribution compared with the standard Clio II.
Rear-Wheel Drive Conversion
The Clio V6 used rear-wheel drive rather than the front-wheel-drive layout of the regular Clio. This required major changes to the drivetrain, body structure, suspension, cooling layout, and packaging.
Naturally Aspirated V6
The car used a naturally aspirated 2,946 cc V6 with four valves per cylinder. Phase 1 cars were rated at about 230 bhp, while Phase 2 cars received engine revisions that increased output to approximately 255 PS.
Phase 2 Chassis Revisions
Phase 2 received revised rear suspension geometry, updated chassis settings, and increased engine output. Renault described Phase 2 as having improved ease of driving compared with the first version.
Phase 1 And Phase 2 Differences
| Phase 1 | Produced from 2001. Built by Tom Walkinshaw Racing in Uddevalla, Sweden. Powered by the 2,946 cc V6 in approximately 230 bhp form. Known for the original widebody conversion and early chassis setup. |
|---|---|
| Phase 2 | Introduced for 2003. Built by Renault Sport / Alpine in Dieppe, France. Engine output increased to approximately 255 PS, and the chassis received revised rear axle kinematics and suspension settings. |
| Common Features | Both phases used a rear-mid-mounted 2.9-liter V6, rear-wheel drive, a six-speed manual transmission, widened bodywork, and a two-seat cabin. |
Packaging
The Clio V6 retained the basic visual relationship to the Clio II hatchback but used a substantially different mechanical layout. The rear passenger compartment was replaced by the engine bay, and the exterior bodywork was widened to accommodate the revised track, cooling requirements, and rear-drive hardware.
The result was a two-seat hatchback with limited cargo utility compared with a standard Clio. Its configuration places it closer to a small mid-engine sports car than to a conventional front-engine hot hatch.
Model-Year Notes
| 2001 | Launch period for the Clio V6 Renault Sport. Phase 1 production used the TWR-built configuration with the lower-output version of the V6. |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Continued Phase 1 production. The car retained the original chassis and engine specification. |
| 2003 | Phase 2 introduced. Production moved to Renault Sport / Alpine in Dieppe, and the car received increased power and revised chassis tuning. |
| 2004–2005 | Later Phase 2 production years. These cars represent the final factory version of the Clio V6 Renault Sport. |
Modern Enthusiast Relevance
- Rear-mid-engine layout in a compact hatchback body
- Rear-wheel-drive conversion of a front-wheel-drive supermini platform
- Naturally aspirated 24-valve V6
- Six-speed manual transmission
- Two-seat interior configuration
- Phase 1 and Phase 2 production differences
- Renault Sport and Alpine Dieppe production connection for Phase 2
- Historical link to Renault’s earlier mid-engine hatchback performance cars
Comparable Cars
Renault 5 Turbo
Earlier Renault rear-mid-engine hatchback. The Clio V6 is not the same platform, but it follows a related packaging concept: a compact Renault hatchback converted for mid-engine, rear-drive performance use.
Ford RS200
Another compact, mid-engine performance car with a specialized layout, though developed for a different motorsport context and using a different drivetrain architecture.
MG Metro 6R4
A mid-engine, V6-powered hatchback-derived competition car. It is more motorsport-focused than the Clio V6, but it shares the concept of placing a V6 behind the cabin of a small hatchback body.
Toyota MR2
A purpose-built mid-engine production sports car. It differs from the Clio V6 because it was designed around a mid-engine layout from the start rather than converted from a front-engine hatchback platform.
MSC Taxonomy
Summary
The Renault Clio V6 Renault Sport is a limited-production Renault Sport model built around a rear-mid-mounted 2.9-liter V6, rear-wheel drive, a six-speed manual transmission, and a two-seat hatchback body. Phase 1 and Phase 2 cars differ in assembly location, chassis tuning, and engine output, with Phase 2 receiving the higher-output 255 PS specification and revised rear suspension geometry.