For those who love driving will love the R27
Motor sport fans and viewers of Foxsports will be familiar with the often-wild action of the Renault Clio Cup race series. Australian hot-hatch buyers can now purchase the base model for that series - the Clio Renault Sport F1 R27.
Our week in the F1 R27 Clio had the Car Showroom team loving the rip-snorting little Renault.
Priced at $39,990, the racy Renault lines up against the GTI model Volkswagen Golf and Polo.
What You Get
A European style racecar for the road, the F1 R27 comes from the home of Renault's Grand Prix race team - the Renault Sport factory in Dieppe, France - and has bold decals on the front, rear, and even the roof, which announce the company's victories in the F1 World Championship.
Everywhere you look there is motor sport technology, including stylish extractor vents on the front fenders, a rear air diffuser, Recaro sports seats and more.
Engineering is also straight from the racetrack with Australian models gaining the Clio Cup Chassis suspension setup.
Every R27 is individually numbered with a plate mounted on the center console alongside the handbrake.
R'Sport is Renault's HSV or FPV so you can delete subtlety and shyness - this is a bold, race-bred hot hatch with European style.
Under The Hood
Power comes from Renault's naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre 16-valve four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels through a sporty, close-ratio six-speed manual transmission with very short movements of the slick gear lever promoting frequent, rapid changes.
Maximum power is 145kW at 7,250rpm (the redline is a sporty 8,000rpm) and peak torque is 215Nm at 5,550 rpm. Of the Volkswagen GTIs, a turbocharged 1.8-litre engine with 110kW/220Nm powers the Polo, while the Golf gets a 2.0-litre turbo with 147kW/280Nm.
The Interior
Inside, the F1 R27 oozes its race heritage in every department. For starters the thick, leather-wrapped sports steering wheel features bold red stitching at the center-top (so you know when the wheel is straight ahead).
Pedals are grippy aluminium and the accelerator has a shaped extension on the left side for easier heel-toe downshifts.
Recaro front seats are lightweight race versions (six kgs lighter than standard) with hugging side bolsters, cutouts for a racing harness and Renault Sport logos embroidered on the headrests. The side airbags are mounted in obvious compartments on the side of the seats and the lever to tilt forward for rear seat access is neatly incorporated in the harness cutouts.
The leather-wrapped gear lever is positioned close to the driver for fast shifts.
It's not all hard-core race car - climate control air-conditioning, cruise control (nice steering wheel button control) and a CD sound system all make day-to-day living with the R27 very easy.
The large rev-counter and speedometer dominate the conventional dashboard layout.
Exterior & Styling
The Renault Sport team has done a great job of combining high-performance with aesthetic appeal - the F1 R27 simultaneously looks racy and stylish.
For starters the F1 R27 sits 7mm lower and the Clio Cup signature 17-inch alloy wheels (charcoal colour) and grippy Continental tyres fill the fenders - just like a racecar.
The extractor vents on the front fenders are more than just appearance add-ons - they extract hot air from the engine compartment and reduce airflow turbulence.
At the rear, a large rear underbody diffuser channels airflow to increase downforce - so a rear wing is not needed.
Then there are the bold stickers on the side and roof, which include the Renault sport logo and promote the company's Formula One World Championship success. We reckon the F1 R27 translates Renault's F1 program to an exciting road car in just the right way.
On The Road
For driving enjoyment, the F1 R27 is without doubt one of the best cars we've tested this year.
Acceleration from the 2.0-litre engine is rapid (zero to 100km/h is 6.9 seconds - that's over one second faster than the Polo GTI and lineball with the Golf). And the slick six-speed transmission with closely spaced ratios is perfect for keeping the revs just right for high-speed cornering and overtaking.
Overall, the F1 R27's suspension is 10 per cent stiffer than standard Clios. The front springs are 27 per cent stiffer and the rears are 30 per cent stiffer. Combined with the excellent Continental tyres, the R27 is nicely grippy with sharp turn-in, sensational mid-corner balance and stunning response.
The F1 R27 runs Brembo brakes (312mm ventilated front discs and 300mm sold rears) and it pulls up with poise (aided by the ease of heel-toe downshifts thanks to that race car accelerator pedal).
Challenges
Our minor quibble with the R27 is that the steering wheel only adjusts for rake - we would have liked just a little reach adjustment for an optimum driving position.
And we're still not fans of Renault's remote audio adjustment, which is a separate box, mounted on the steering wheel.
Verdict
No beating around the bush here - the F1 R27 is a cracker. For driving enjoyment this is the hottest of the hot hatches.
It's only a three-door so its appeal is limited, but there's no doubt Renault has done a top job in combining race-car-for-the-road technology, everyday drivability and convenience … and tossed in just the right amount of F1 livery and logos to remind everyone that the French manufacturer remains one of the kingpins of Grand Prix racing.
Park your R27 around Melbourne during Australian Grand Prix time and your street cred will instantly hit the max!
The Competition
Volkswagen's GTI brothers the Polo and Golf are the most direct competitors. In size, the F1 R27 is closer to the Polo than the Golf, but for performance and driving dynamics the F1 R27 is a match for the Golf.
Not as race-bred and without the in-your-face styling of the F1 R27, the Alfa Romeo 147 might also be worth a look.
Likes
A drivers' supercar; F1-inspired; Euro style
Dislikes
No reach adjustment for steering wheel; only 40 coming to Oz - so be quick if you want one
