Amadeo Gordini, who started off building competition conversions of standard Renaults and built super-quick road cars to pay for his racing, would have had plenty to say.
Sports-car enthusiasts have already warned Renault that to build Gordini-badged versions of the mechanically very unspecial Clio GT will only reduce the value of the seriously quick Clio Gordini RS but, as usual, the marketing mavens in ponytails and Armani have had the final word.
So here we go.
The new Renault Clio Gordini is simply a Clio GT with what Renault PR optimistically calls “the Gordini look and feel”; since the real “Gordini feel” is closely akin to a kick in the butt, however, that may be overstating the case.
It will be available in Europe from September 2011 in three or five-door format with either a 95kW, 1.6-litre, 16-valve petrol engine or a 77kW 1.5dCi turbodiesel, and will replace the existing GT variant. It's aimed, according to the aforementioned ponytails, at “customers who want chic styling combined with driving enjoyment, but who have no desire to own an overly sporty vehicle”.
It comes with:
Gordini stripes over the bonnet, roof (except with optional sunroof) and tailgate.
White mirror housings and front protective mouldings.
16” black diamond-effect alloy rims.
“Gordini Series” badging on the sides.
Combined vinyl/fabric upholstery in grey and black with embossed Gordini badges and contrasting stitching in white.
Leather-trimmed grey/black steering wheel with two white stripes indicating the “straight-ahead” position
Grey gear-lever gaiter and a metal gear knob with blue Gordini-badged insert.
Sports pedals,
Black lacquered audio panel, air-vents and dashboard trim.
Blue-edged floor mats with Gordini logos.
Grey seat belts.
Dual exhaust tailpipes on the left-hand side of the car.
Body-colour front splitter, sills and rear lip spoiler,
Cornering lights and front fog lights,
Automatic headlights, rain sensor and climate control.
An 80W radio/CD/MP3 player with steering wheel-mounted remote control and RCA socket.
TomTom Live navigation.
Cruise control with speed limiter.
Electric windows and side mirrors.
Remote central locking, and
Front and side airbags.
Renault SA reacted with mild distaste when asked if the Clio GT-with-stripes would be released in South Africa, saying it would prefer to keep the Gordini brand for RS models. ‘Nuff said.