Been a long time since i've posted cos real work is keeping me too busy!
So... surprise surprise, only the more interesting cars of this past month will be included.
I've personally always had a soft spot for hot hatches... in particular French ones, especially after all the fun i had in this one:
I didnt particularly enjoy the Megane RS225 (again short name for the sake of brevity) in all its different guises (including the R26) so my hopes weren't particularly high when the R27 arrived in town.
It's easy to spot the ones who get it... and the ones who don't. The latter crowd lavish praises on the R26 just because it 'feels' fast. While going fast is always a bonus, a 'hot-hatch' should always be about the handling over all else.
Some of the best hot-hatches of ages past (Peugeot 205 GTi and Clio Williams to name just 2) weren't particularly fast in a straight-line, but were capable of 1) lift-off oversteer fun and/or 2) lifting the inside wheel during cornering!
However, some time with the R27 quickly demonstrated that Renault has not lost its touch when it comes to creating genuinely entertaining hot hatchbacks, unlike the so many pretenders in the market today.
Some quick pix first before i finish this post:
Yep, this is a limited edition car with all the dodgy stickers on the outside (that you're more than welcome to peel off, of course) In the case of the R27 though, it really is a special breed of car.
These seats are fabbo and I'm not ashamed to say I almost peed my pants when i saw'em. These are 'real' Recaro OE pieces that grip and look fantastic! (as opposed to the off-the-shelf jobs that are hastily bunged into some 'performance' cars)
Oversized fonts let you keep an eye on things and everything you'll need to know is laid out logically in the instrument cluster.
Compared to the earlier Clio renaultsport 172/182s, the gearshift on the R27 is surprisingly precise, albeit just a tad long in throw. Gear-ratios are slightly long and one really needs to wring the R27 hard to have it perform.
Apart from the stickers, little badges and some visual aesthetic garnish helps distinguish it from the lesser models.
If the badges aren't enough, there's always the R27's phat stance, flared arches that boast outrageous vents, a rear underbody diffuser and the gorgeous gun-metal (or anthracite) alloy rims wrapped in really sticky rubber, to help the blind.
Don't be fooled by its proportions either. With a (near) 2600mm wheelbase, there's plenty of room for four adults and the boot has surprisingly generous cargo room.
On the move, the car emits a most delicious rasp, especially when you're heading up the rev-counter towards the oversized '8',000rpm mark. Owners of high revving VTEC machines will take to the R27 like a fish to water although they would appreciate an additional 1500rpm to play with in the high end! Turbo-lovers will lament the lack of punch compared to the Megane, which is true, but what it lacks in outright grunt, this tiny tyke makes up for in sophistication, especially the free-revving nature of the F4R engine.
Damping, ride comfort and body control are top-notch during regular ho-hum driving (R27 inherits the more aggressive suspension from the Clio Cup 197). However, even when the red-mist descends, the chassis' ability to cope with abrupt direction changes and hard turn-ins demonstrates a finesse that is lacking in so many more expensive machinery. The steering responds with enough alertness, and there's ample communication and feedback to keep you engaged (unlike the Megane).
At highway speeds of up to 180km/h, one can really feel the aerodynamics at work as the R27 hunkers down to the tarmac leech-like. I've been in bigger cars that felt less stable at these speeds! Also don't forget that the new car has a far heavier kerb-weight than its earlier counterparts, with only a marginal increase in power, so moving-off from standstill is accompanied by a little lethargy.
Like most of the other models in this segment from the other French brands, the R27 doesn't feature Xenon headlamps, which is quite a downer for me (especially since the earlier Clio RS had them as a standard option). To me, the R27 presents a perfect package, so it's a shame that the R27, which would set you back S$110, doesn't come equipped with HIDs.
But that's a small gripe in a little car that is so BIG on fun!
Fast Facts - Renault Clio Renault F1 Team R27
Engine: 1998cc, 16-valves, 4-cylinder
Maximum power: 197bhp at 7250rpm
Maximum torque: 215Nm at 5550rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
0-100km/h: 6.9 seconds
Top speed: 215km/h
Wheelbase: 2585mm
LxBxH: 3991 x 2025 x 1484 mm
Kerbweight: 1240kg
Agent: Wearnes Automotive
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