Face to face with Renault Clio V6 Phase II: madness on wheels
Renault Clio V6 Phase II
The Clio V6 Phase II is wider, lower and more muscular than any other Clio. The wider fenders give it an impressive stance, while the large air intakes behind the doors give a clear hint of what’s under the hood. At the front, it gets larger air vents, tighter headlights and an updated front bumper with a more dynamic shape. The rear is dominated by an aggressive bumper, a central dual exhaust and a subtle spoiler.
Renault delivered the Clio V6 Phase II in a range of striking colors, including Illiad Blue, a color that makes it perhaps most iconic, and this bright shade Jaune Sirius. In other words, Renault Sport yellow. The 17-inch alloy wheels, designed slightly differently from those of the Phase I, perfectly complement the pronounced wheel arches.
Inside, the Clio V6 Phase II gets a sporty interior with aluminum pedals, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and special sport seats that provide extra lateral support. This is a cockpit that makes it clear that this Clio is more than just another fast hatchback.
A mid engine and brute force
The engine of the Clio V6 Phase II is a 3.0-liter V6, taken from the Renault Laguna but thoroughly modified by Renault Sport. It produces 188 kW (255 hp) and 300 Nm of torque, a considerable increase over the Phase I, which had to make do with 169 kW (230 hp). Thanks to this upgrade, it sprints to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 250 km/h.
The engine is located directly behind the front seats, creating a unique weight distribution and a driving experience that has nothing to do with a normal Clio. The six-speed manual transmission, sourced from Porsche, is tight and direct, keeping you completely connected to the car.
The suspension has been completely revised from the Phase I. Renault Sport made the suspension stiffer, widened the track width and tuned the steering more sharply. The result? A car that is less treacherous than its predecessor and feels much more stable at high speed, without losing its playful character.
Renault Clio V6 Phase I: the diamond in the rough
For the Phase II, Renault is building on the Clio V6 Phase I, launched in 2001. Developed in collaboration with TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing), the first generation has a 3.0 V6 with 169 kW (230 hp). It is notorious for its unpredictable handling, especially in wet conditions, but that is precisely what makes it so legendary. The Phase I was produced in a run of 1,513 units and was largely hand-built in Uddevalla, Sweden.
With Phase II, Renault Sport takes the reins itself and moves production to the Dieppe plant. This results in a car that is more refined, has better steering and is easier to control at high speed. Still, it remains a car that commands respect and only really comes into its own in the right hands. Renault is building 1,309 examples of the Phase II. So the “Phase 2” is more exclusive than the first version.
A legend that will never be forgotten
The Renault Clio V6 Phase II epitomizes a time when automakers still dared to experiment. It is impractical, it has a tiny trunk and it is not your average hothatch – but that is precisely what makes it so legendary. The Clio V6 remains a brutal, uncompromising machine that gives you a pure driving experience.
