Renaultsport Clio V6

By Ross Pinnock

June 2005

The flagship version of the next Clio will make do with a four-cylinder unit, so we got hold of the first of the last-of-the line editions to see if buyers will miss the mad Renault when it is gone. With its striking Acid Yellow paint, our V6 is proof of how striking this machine is. Few cars turn as many heads at any price.

On paper at least, the performance is just as impressive. The rear-wheel- drive superhatch can do 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds, but it rarely feels as fast as the figures suggest. Only when you have space to legally use full throttle at high revs is the pace accessible.

What's more, tapping in to all the power is a nerve-racking experience - the twitchy handling can make the Clio a handful. But despite its faults, the V6 is still a likeable car. It has bags of character, yet at ΂£27,013 it faces seriously capable four-wheel-drive rivals. One thing's for sure, though... buyers will be getting a future classic.

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