Renault revived the Gordini name at the end of 2009, when it presented the Twingo Gordini RS. Other members of the Gordini family include the Twingo Gordini and more recently, the Wind Gordini, which premiered at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.
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Instead of thoroughly re-engineering the Gordini-badged model, the French company has simply tweaked the Renaultsport Clio's appearance. Aside from the twin white racing stripes on the bonnet, roof and tailgate, the Gordini treatment includes glossy black bumper parts, white mirrors and unique 17-inch alloy wheels with a polished face and black inner rim.
To the disappointment of Gordini fans, the treatment is essentially a styling package. On the outside, the Clio Gordini RS features a Malta Blue bodywork embellished by two hallmark white stripes, black 17-inch alloys, gloss black highlights on the front bumper and rear diffuser plus mirror housings and F1-style front bib finished in white.
Additional cosmetic upgrades include a white front bumper insert, white rear spoiler and exterior mirrors, and white racing stripes on the sides and the rooftop, plus tinted rear windows and tailgate.
The sporty theme continues on the inside, with all Clio S models featuring 'S' embossed upholstery with white seams, leather steering wheel and a white finish for the centre console, dashboard inserts and instrument dials.
All Clio S models are based on Expression trim level with buyers having a choice of three engines, a 1.2-liter petrol with 75HP, a 1.2-liter turbo with 100HP and a 1.5-liter diesel with 86HP.
Pricing for the new Clio S versions range between £11,209 for the 1.2 16V and £13,458 for the 1.5 dCi 86 A/C. Buyers have a choice of four colors including Glacier White, Pearl Black, Capsicum Red and Extreme Blue.
If you thought Renault's naming system for its sporty hatches was already ridiculous with the RenaultSport (...and horsepower) moniker wait until the French firm launches a new line of models that will revive the Gordini nameplate. See, instead of replacing the RenaultSport name, the Gordini badge will be used on more premium and chic versions of the automaker's hot hatches that will benefit from specific cosmetic and equipment upgrades - but not from any kind of mechanical tweaks.And that despite the fact that the iconic nameplate was once used on the Renault 8 Gordini rally car of the mid 1960s which later on gave birth to a 1300cc version for the Gordini Cup one-make race series.
The first product of the Gordini brand that is set to be unveiled on 25 November at L'Atelier Renault on the Champs Elysées in Paris, is the Renault Twingo Gordini RenaultSport which will be based on the Renault Twingo RenaultSport 133 - yes, we could have just said Twingo RS 133 but where's the fun in that?
The Gordini-badged Twingo is scheduled to go on sale in Europe in Spring of 2010 and will be followed by similar versions of the Clio RS 200 and Megane RS 250 hot hatches.
Renault did not disclose any specific details on the Gordini models but it's safe to assume that the cars will feature the brand's traditional light-blue exterior finish with twin white racing stripes.
The new, fourth generation Renault Clio may still be far way from production but that hasn't deterred magazines from speculating on the supermini's appearance. In one of its latest issues, French car magazine Autoplus has published a series of artist's renditions of the 2011 Clio that are said to based on some allegedly official grainy black-and-white designs that were leaked online earlier this year.The computer generated images suggest a more dramatic styling with 'swoopier' lines and a bolder face for Renault's Ford Fiesta and Citroen C3 rival. As is the case with many of these future car renditions, there's no way of being sure about how close or not they are to the actual production model.
Via: Autoplus
