Renault Sport chose the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix to pull the covers off a special Clio R.S. 16 concept car.

Celebrating Renault Sport’s 40th anniversary and return to Formula 1, the the Clio R.S. 16 is powered by the French brands highest-performing engine, shoehorned in to a Clio, and features the colours of the R.S. 16 F1 single-seater.

“Our aim was to produce a concept car with genuinely outstanding performance credentials,” said Patrice Ratti, Managing Director of Renault Sport Cars, leader of the project which particularly inspired the development team’s specialists. “On paper, producing a Clio R.S. powered by our most potent engine – namely the 275-horsepower two-litre power unit which delivers peak torque of 360Nm – was an extremely appealing idea, but we had to make sure it was feasible.”

With a close collaboration between Renault’s motorsport and road cars divisions, the incubation of the highest-performance road-going Renault Sport car ever took just five months.

Finding the ideal way to house the engine, transmission and cooling system of the Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy-R's power unit was a significant challenge according to Renault. The exhaust system was also revised as a function of the engine’s potential, while the suspension was reworked to match the car’s performance characteristics. Engineers also paid ‘careful attention’ to the sound produced by the car - fitting an Akrapovič twin exhaust system. 

The design and development team dealt with the constraints inherent in the Clio R.S. 16 project, widening the body by 60mm, and fitting 19-inch wheels, to produce an expressive, sporty stance.

The result is enhanced by an ‘LED R.S. VISION’ chequered-pattern lighting signature featuring multi-faceted reflector technology. Renault Sport’s trademark Sirius yellow has been combined with gloss black details to mirror the livery of Renault Sport Formula One Team’s R.S. 16 F1 single-seaters.

The car's next official appearance will be at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, June 23-26.