2005 Renault Clio 182 Trophy Wins Evo Magazine Award

As the winner of Evo Magazine's 2005 'People's Performance Car Of the Year' award, the Renault Clio Renaultsport 182 Trophy is a car that straddles the usable day to day and performance and trackday car gap. Based on the final Cup edition of the powerful Clio 182 model, a batch of the last 550 cars (500 for the UK and 50 with left hand drive for the Swiss market) were painted a signature colour of Capsicum Red, numbered out of 500 (or 50 LHD) with a special plaque and fitted with the following factory upgrades to bring them up to Trophy specification: Sachs Race Engineering adjustable dampers with remote reservoir, enhanced Clio V6 255 Rear Spoiler with shorter struts, Recaro Trendline Alcantara faced front seats and anthracite grey coloured Speedline Turini 16" diameter lightweight alloy wheels to further improve the unsprung weight on each corner. This combination of subtle chassis modifications, lighter unsprung weight and more supportive front seats transforms the 182 from a capable performance car into what is to date the most lauded hot hatchback ever made by owners and magazine testers alike. Professional racing drivers I have chatted with who have owned and run them describe the Clio Trophy as having the best turn-in characteristic of any road car in this price range and far above.

Based on the 182 Cup model, the car comes well equiped with standard CD Tuner, Air Conditioning, ABS Brakes and Traction Control, which may be switched off - ideal for trackday use. The Cruise Control has a speed limiter function, useful in the pitlane! The Cup model also has standard fit Michelin Pilot Exalto tyres which are best kept like for like at replacement time to maintain the factory chassis ride and handling setup.

Unsurprisingly, second hand values of this model have remained very firm with low mileage 2005 examples changing hands at over 75% of their price new, completely rewriting the Renault depreciation rule book. Since only 500 RHD were produced and I suspect only 480 remain (with a number written off by over enthusiastic owners) with one or two in the hands of the manufacturer or track day businesses, the future potential of this ultimate road/track day car remains positive.

The UK's leading supplier of properly prepared Clio 182 Trophy models is Steve Coulter, whose stock can be found here.

Addendum. Surfing the Internet, the Clio Trophy has a following amongst the Japanese performance car afficionados, but they seem to import the LHD models that become available in Europe - when they, like the UK are RHD. Strange but true!



















Photograph of Renaultsport Clio 182 Trophy Copyright Steve Coulter New Media