Clio TV stars mark the public launch of new Clio Renaultsport 197

Hitting UK showrooms on Tuesday 18th July 2006, the hot-hatch version of the Clio III - the New Clio Renaultsport 197 - is set to join Renault’s long established list of hot hatch legends which started 30 years ago in 1976 with the 93hp 5 Gordini. To welcome the latest car, three generations of stars from the Clio TV commercials visited the Renault stand at the British Motor Show when it opened its doors this week, including the first return visit for the actress who played "Nicole" in the "Papa, Nicole" ads in the ‘90s.

Actress Estelle Skornik played Nicole between 1991 and 1998 when the final ad showed her leaving Vic Reeves at the altar and running off with Bob Mortimer in her new Clio II. Even today, surveys by Channel 4 and ITV show this series as the most popular car ads ever made.

Joining Estelle was actress Hélène Mahieu, who first informed us that with Clio II "Size Matters". She was also the first person to utter the phrase "Va Va Voom" which has gone on to become so popular that it now has an entry in the Oxford English Dictionary. They defined it is "The quality of being exciting, vigorous or sexually attractive". Maybe, maybe not……....

Keeping Estelle and Hélène company, and the person who will get to drive the new Clio Renaultsport 197 in the second "British vs French" TV commercial due to be filmed later this year, was actor Jeremy Sheffield who plays the part of "Ben", the British man in a battle of wits with "Sophie" played by French actress Annalise Hesme.

Clio Hot Hatch Heritage

The 5 Gordini was swiftly followed by the 5 Gordini Turbo (115hp) and then 5GT Turbo (120hp), which took advantage of the knowledge gained from Renault’s foray into turbo-charged engines with its Formula One racing team in the late ‘70s.

The first Clio was introduced in 1991 and it didn’t take long for a 137hp, 1.8 litre 16V version to become the new benchmark of the class. The engine took advantage of the latest craze for free breathing, high revving four valve-per-cylinder engines to replace the turbo units of the ‘80s.

The ultimate Clio I was launched to celebrate Nigel Mansell and Williams Renault winning the 1992 F1 World Championship titles and was named appropriately, Clio Williams. With a breathed upon 2 litre 16V engine producing 150hp the 0-62mph time dropped from 8 seconds for the regular 16V to 7.8 seconds for the Williams with increased mid-range acceleration. This car was actually developed by Renault’s motorsport division, Renaultsport, and was to signal expansion of Renaultsport’s road car involvement.

Clio II was launched in 1998 and only one year later saw the launch of the Clio Renaultsport 172. Boasting, as the name suggests, a phenomenal 172hp, the first Clio to be badged Renaultsport became an instant class leader and embarrassed quite a number of much more expensive cars with its sensational chassis and performance blasting from 0-62mph in only 7.2 seconds.

2001 saw a facelift for the Clio and a lightweight version of the Renaultsport 172 called Cup. 2004 saw a power boost to 182hp (and 0-62mph in 7.1 seconds) and in 2005 the Clio Renaultsport 182 went out on a high with the limited edition Trophy version with highly specialised suspension, Recaro seats and lightweight alloys.

Clio Renaultsport 197

Now in July 2006, only eight months after the launch of Clio III, the benefit of Renaultsport having its own engineering team and facilities means the hot version is ready to hit the road. Clio Renaultsport 197 aims to carry on setting new benchmarks in this ultra competitive market sector.

With best in class power, an impressive level of standard equipment, and excellent driving dynamics, the Clio Renaultsport 197, priced at £15,995, ensures it is a very worthy successor to its predecessors.

With a 2-litre engine producing 197hp at 7,250rpm and 215 Nm of torque at 5,550, a new six-speed gearbox, this results in 0-62mph in just 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 134mph, customers would need to go up a sector and pay thousands more to find a car that matches New Clio Renaultsport 197’s performance, making the £15,995 price tag excellent value for money – in fact nothing for this price accelerates faster than the Clio 197. But that has always explained the hot Clio’s appeal - Giant-killer!