GT5 Transcripts/Clio Renault Sport V6

Renault wanted to build the ultimate hot hatch from the second-gen Clio. And to do so, the company wanted to install a V-6 into the compact car. There wasn't enough room to accommodate such a large power under the hood, so the rear seats were removed, and in its place sat a 3.0-liter V-6 mounted amidships.

This powerplant is the same found in the company's upscale model, the Laguna. It produces 230 HP/6000 rpm and an immersive 221.3 ft-lb of torque at 3750 rpm. Shifting is performed via a 6-speed manual gearbox. The big power made the Clio Renault Sport V6 the prototypical "point and squirt" car because it possessed both excellent acceleration, especially at the low end of the rpm spectrum, and remarkable nimbleness.

The suspension system consisted of specially designed struts, and when combined with the grip provided by its wide tires - 205/50R17 up front and 235/45R17 at rear - the little Renault stuck the road surface through corners. That the Lutecia performed as well as it did was amazing given that Renault transformed an FF (Front-engine, Front drive) into an MR (Mid-engine, Rear drive).

A slightly redesigned Clio Renault Sport V6 appeared at the Paris Motor Show in October 2002, featuring larger 18-in. wheels. Power for the engine was bumped up to 251 HP/7150 rpm and 221.3 ft-lb of torque. The suspension geometry was also revised, and, when combined with an additional subframe at the rear, the car handled better than the original.