2009 Renault Clio Renaultsport 200

Renault invited Carmagazine to drive the new 200 Cup at Portugal’s Braga circuit.Actually, the revisions are more extensive than that. Sure, there’s still a 2.0-litre 16-valve screamer under the hood with just shy of 200bhp (the 200 refers to the metric ps measurement). But there’s also around 20% more torque on tap from low revs, while first, second and third gears are shorter. So where the 197 could feel slightly lethargic, the 200 positively bounds off the line. Better still, both mpg and C02 emissions are marginally improved too. You’re getting ahead of yourself with all this Cup talk. What about the standard 200?

Unlike the previous model roll-out, the regular 200 and Cup debut simultaneously, but we’ve only driven the driver-focused 2009 Renault Clio 200 Cup – an understandable decision on Renault’s part seeing as we were driving solely on track.

This time there’s even more differentiation between the Cup and the 200. Yes, the Cup is still pared back (lower quality dash plastics, plus no air-con, keycard, reach-adjustable steering column, electric mirrors etc), but its chassis is 15% stiffer than its predecessor’s, where the 200’s is 15% softer, giving the two cars more distinct personalities. But don’t worry, you can still spec the Cup chassis on the more luxurious 200 for £400.

© Source: carmagazine
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