IN THIS FEATURE Less of a thriller? Lighter, faster, safer

Like most car nuts, 4Car was a big fan of the previous Renault Clio Cup, which weighed some 80kg less than the standard Renaultsport Clio 172 hot hatchback and sat on lowered, stiffened suspension. Granted, it did without air-con and ABS, both items we'd want to specify if we were buying one, but that didn't stop it being an absolute hoot to drive; keen, raw and enthusiastic. When the Clio 172 became the 182 thanks to a power hike to 180bhp earlier in 2004 though, the separate Cup model was dropped, and we were a bit disappointed. We like the standard Renaultsport Clio 182 of course, but it lacks the hardcore edge and puppy-dog enthusiasm of the Cup.

And it looks like we weren't the only ones rueing its demise, because although a couple of Cup-spec options are available on the regular Clio 182 - you can have lowered suspension, different wheels and a spoiler pack - a proper new Clio Cup has now arrived. The fear is, though, that given it weighs just 20kg less than the regular 182 rather than 80kg less - because it now comes with ABS and air-conditioning; so is it perhaps less of a thriller?

Cup looks identical to standard Clio 182 with lowered suspension package

Is it heck. The little hot hatch is still astonishingly good fun. No apologies for a bit of petrolheadedness here, because if you don't enjoy driving, you won't like the Clio Cup at all. It's very raucous for a modern souped-up 'mini, with a loud, rorty engine note, and it's extremely quick. Renault claims 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds but in truth it feels faster than that, with superb in-gear acceleration and strong pull right throughout the rev-range - unlike Toyota's Corolla T-Sport there's no massive kick in the pants when the valve timing changes at the top end - the Clio's just really quick, all the time. It might only be 20kg lighter than the 182, but at 1070kg, it's still a light car and its power-to-weight ratio of 168bhp/tonne is virtually identical to that of the fast 3.0-litre BMW Z4.