Renault Clio Sport 182 Cup 2004 – Today’s Tempter

By: James Robinson, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 02.05.2017

Hot French hatchback

What is it about the French and hot hatchbacks? They’re just so damn good at making small, pugnacious monsters that can embarrass the very best of sports cars on a tight and twisty road. 

The answer to the question ‘which French hot hatch is best?’ however is rather a contentious one, and will vary greatly depending on who you talk to.

Some will say the Peugeot 205 GTI, others will say the Renault 5 Turbo, and some will say the Renault Clio Sport.

But which Clio Sport? That’s another question that could lead to an enthusiastic debate (massive argument) over which one is best. Is it the Clio Williams edition, or the V6, or the 172, or the 182 Trophy or the 182 Cup?

It doesn’t really matter which one you choose, they are all brilliant little cars in their own right. The geniuses at Renault Sport, Renault’s motorsport division, are some of the biggest proponents of turning little economy cars into barrels of fun.  

This particular Clio Sport, the 182 Cup, was the final version of the Clio 2 series that we got here in Australia. Why 182? That denotes the 182PS or 134kW the 2.0lt, four cylinder F4R engine produces. That’s tied to a five-speed manual transmission.

The other important word in this cars title is "Cup", as in cup chassis. This means the car spring and damper rates are stiffer and the car itself sits 10mm lower. It also means this car steers incredibly well.

They’re no slouch either. With only 1090 kilograms to move around, the Clio will hit 100km/h from rest in only 6.6 seconds, a respectable time even by today’s standards. 

No Renault Sport Clio would be complete without a couple of choice modifications to enhance the driving experience, and this example is no exception. It comes with a cold air intake (a must for a Clio 2 series) and a 2.5" stainless steel cat-back exhaust.

This Clio also has a full service history and a mere 90,100 kilometres on the clock. It’s priced at $10,500.

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