Forza Horizon 4: Dreamer's Clio

The Renaultsport Clio IV would have been the fantastic little hatchback enthusiasts wanted but with the double clutch only offering, this hot hatch really feels like a letdown to many, and even with the 220 Trophy EDC with improved dynamics and shifting response, it still won't make the cut to everyone.



So, what would Renault do to convince skeptics that their hot Clio is the best affordable hot hatch ever made?



Simple, really. Make a one-off, show it at the Monaco GP, and leave it until the looks became the basis of the minor change Renaultsport Clio. This is the Renault Clio R.S. 16 Concept, a one-off celebrating the return of Renault to Formula 1 as a constructor team.



Built to celebrate four decades of RenaultSport, this commemorative one-off based on the Clio IV RS is powered by the same 275hp 2.0L turbo engine from the Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy-R as well as reworked chassis and suspension systems made with racing purposes in mind. The livery and the name were inspired by one of Renault's Formula 1 racers, marking Renault's return as a Formula 1 constructor, and to celebrate its comeback, they've enlisted Kevin Magnussen to drive it around the streets of Monaco.

This one-off project was made by a team of ten or so people and it took less than five months to get it done so everything is working by the moment it lets its turbocharged engine loose and what a machine it is.



For a one-off that took five months to assemble, the Clio RS16 Concept feels like a Megane on so many levels and it's basically one of the best handling hot hatches never made, sadly. Yes, it is a concept car but the way it behaves really made us happy, sad, silly, and mad, just like any other production hot hatches on the road today. For Renault, they've truly flipped the trump card with the ultimate Clio that never was.

To find out if Renault flipped the card with the Clio RS16 Concept, I'm taking a flight towards LEGO Valley to stretch its imaginary muscles and see if this concept car is worthy of inspiration for Renault's future hot hatches.







With its imaginary playground set, the Clio RS16 Concept is prepared to flex its muscles while getting its face dirty in the name of science. Roll the tape.

More dirt than I expected but well done, Clio.



The Renault Clio R.S. 16 Concept may be a distant dream but all that know-how learned from this one-off served as an inspiration for future Renault hot hatches and we can expect great things to come from Renaultsport.

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