Production of the 271bhp Clio is ‘95% there’

Back in July, we drove the 271bhp Renault Clio RS16. Renault’s fastest ever car, it’s also huge fun, and as raucous as hot hatches get right now.

Seems a no-brainer for small-series production, then, and we predicted the car would walk into a limited run of 200-300 units.

However, the decision is still in the process of being made, with a Renault insider telling us at the Paris show that a firm yes or no is still a week or two away, with the decision ‘95% there’.

If you need a reminder, the RS16 takes the large 2-litre turbo engine, mechanical differential and six-speed manual gearbox of the mad Megane Trophy R (as well as its huge brakes, lightweight wheels and sticky tyres), and shoehorns them all beneath the smaller Clio body.

The result is a car far removed from the stock, sensible Clio 200, with its 1.6-litre engine and paddleshift auto gearbox. It’s brilliantly mad and it must be made, basically.

So it’s time to unite, TG.com: use the comments box below to inform Renault’s top brass that a berserk yellow hot hatch is exactly what the world needs…