Renault's made a Clio RS18 special edition

Remember the Clio RS16? The mighty, Megane Trophy-engined Clio that Renault never got round to making? Well, meet the Clio RS18.

Before you get excited and presume the accountants have had a rethink, though, this is just a visual special edition based on the existing, 220bhp RenaultSport Clio Trophy.

The Clio 220 Trophy is a pretty sound base car, mind, so long as you’re happy with a paddleshift gearbox. One of the grippiest, most composed hot hatches on sale, it's a real wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Well, it was. Apply the Clio RS18 treatment and it gains an unsubtle black and yellow colour scheme that’s a nod to Renault’s Formula 1 cars. There are graphics seemingly everywhere, even the roof.

Inside, there’s more Alcantara than standard and some faux-carbon trim. The best news is the fitment of an Akrapovic sports exhaust, though that’s something you can add on the regular 220 Trophy’s options list.

The RS18 is going to be sold across Europe, but not in Britain. So if you’re on UK shores and like what you see, we’re afraid its unavailability makes it a lot more like the RS16 than it first appeared…

We drive the mega Renault Clio RS16 concept