28 Jan 04
If all these handling and performance mods aren't enough, buyers can choose to have their cars fettled at the factory for an extra £200. This buys you the Cup chassis option which stiffens the suspension more, lowers the ride height by an insignificant 3mm, and strengthens the steering set-up by the use of larger-diameter bearings in the hub carriers. This keeps the front wheels at their desired steering angle when subjected to cornering forces and acceleration changes - so there's more feedback through the steering wheel. You'll be able to recognise a 'Cupped' Clio 182 by the new eight-spoke alloys finished in Anthracite (dark-grey) and fitted with stiffer sidewalled tyres.
Inside the Clio, few things have changed - the dashboard is now a darker grey, and the seats are trimmed in leather and perforated alcantara, with Renaultsport logos embroidered into them. The light-grey metallic seatbelts look cheap, as do the etched side sill protectors, but Renault says that little things like this make a Renaultsport car stand out from the other trim levels - it looks more like a bad taste trip through Halfords to us, though. Aluminium-looking plastic is splashed liberally around the dashboard, steering wheel and gear lever, with drilled aluminium pedals adding to the sporty look. Outside, the 182 is available in six different colours, including a rather bright pearlescent yellow - which works quite well with the dark Cup alloys.
