The Renault Clio V6 was not a hot hatch in the conventional sense. Renault removed the rear seats, installed a 3.0-litre V6 behind the occupants and sent power to the rear wheels, turning the familiar Clio shape into a compact, mid-engined sports car. Phase 1 was developed with Tom Walkinshaw Racing; Phase 2 was substantially reworked at Renault Sport in Dieppe.
| Production | 2000–2005 |
|---|---|
| Total built | 2,822; 1,309 were Phase 2 |
| Engine | 2,946cc 24-valve V6 |
| Power | 226hp Phase 1; 255hp Phase 2 |
| Layout | Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
From 1998 concept to production car
Renault revealed the Clio V6 concept at the Paris Motor Show in October 1998, only months after the second-generation Clio appeared. Public reaction encouraged production, which began in November 2000. The idea deliberately echoed the Renault 5 Turbo: take the outline of an everyday hatchback, sacrifice the back seats and create a mid-engined halo car.
Development of the first production version was entrusted to Tom Walkinshaw Racing. TWR engineered the installation of the PSA/Renault ES9 V6, six-speed manual gearbox, bespoke rear structure, wide tracks and dramatic composite bodywork. Assembly took place at Valmet in Finland rather than on an ordinary Clio production line.
Phase 1: 226hp and a demanding character
The Phase 1 engine produced 226hp and drove the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Renault quoted 235km/h, while contemporary acceleration figures placed it firmly in sports-car territory. More memorable than the numbers was the driving experience: the engine sat close behind the seats, the body was exceptionally wide and the short wheelbase demanded measured inputs.
Phase 1 earned a reputation for sudden responses near the limit. That should not be reduced to caricature: geometry, tyres, road conditions and driver technique all matter, but Renault clearly saw room for development. It also explains why original, correctly aligned cars on appropriate tyres deserve careful distinction from modified or poorly repaired examples.
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Phase 2: Renault Sport finishes the idea
For 2003, production moved to Renault Sport’s Dieppe factory. Phase 2 was much more than a facelift. Power rose to 255hp, the front and rear suspension geometry was revised, the wheelbase effectively increased through chassis changes and Renault worked to make the car more progressive without removing its intensity.
The later car adopted the facelifted Clio nose, larger 18-inch wheels and a wider colour palette—Renault’s heritage archive notes 13 exterior colours. Maximum speed rose to approximately 250km/h in period Renault material, while the official technical listing records 237km/h for its museum example. Such differences are a reminder to distinguish launch claims, market specifications and individual cars.
Why the Clio V6 matters
Few manufacturers have approved anything comparable. The Clio V6 looked like a hatchback but behaved like a compact exotic, with almost no luggage capacity, an engine filling the rear cabin and a soundtrack absent from ordinary Clios. It was neither the fastest car for its price nor the easiest way to build a hot hatch. Its value lay in the audacity of the exercise.
Production ended in July 2005 after 2,822 cars, including 1,309 Phase 2 examples. Those numbers, its split production history and the clear differences between the two phases give the model lasting historical depth.
Renault Clio V6 FAQ
How many Clio V6s were built?
Renault records 2,822 cars in total, of which 1,309 were Phase 2.
What is the main difference between Phase 1 and Phase 2?
Phase 2 increased power from 226hp to 255hp and introduced major suspension, geometry and styling revisions. It was built at Dieppe rather than by Valmet.
Is the Clio V6 front-wheel drive?
No. Its V6 sits behind the occupants and drives the rear wheels.
Who developed Phase 1?
Tom Walkinshaw Racing led Phase 1 development, while Renault Sport substantially re-engineered Phase 2.
Is it mechanically a normal Clio?
No. Although its styling and cabin share Clio cues, the structure, drivetrain, suspension and widened body make it a specialist sports car.
Continue the Renault story
Explore more unusual French performance cars in the Rare & Performance Renaults hub.
Research note: Production, specifications and phase history were checked against Renault’s official heritage archive.
