Special Sub-Topic: Renault Clio Sport 172 MK2 Click Here To Play: Renault Clio Sport 172 MK2

What does the 172 stand for?

172 bhp. The 172 stands for the engines brake horse power. The Clio 172 is powered by a two litre 16v engine with variable valve timing. Maximum power: 172 bhp DIN (at 6250 rpm). Maximum torque: 200 Nm ISO (at 5400 rpm). Maximum power kicks in at 6,250 rpm with little power loss beyond 6,250 rpm. With a weight of only 1035 kg the performance is unbelievable.

The Renault Clio 172 has disc brakes all round.

True. The braking system is a diagonally split braking arrangement with ventilated front discs, and solid rears. The 172 is also equipped with ABS, EBD and is Servo-assisted. It is possible to reach 0/62 and back to zero in under 10 secs.

The Clio 172 was only available as a three door hatch.

True. The three door hatch was the only option on the 172 range. Many other models from the Clio range are available in the five door hatch format though. The Clio 172 comes with rain sensitive wipers, automatic switch-on xenon headlights with washers, which switch on as soon as the daylight disappears, electric windows, electric mirrors, remote central locking, 6-speaker, 6 stacker CD stereo which can be controlled by the steering column switch, air con, climate control, power steering and leather and Alcantara trim. There are a few other extras also included.

What is the top speed of the Clio 172?

138. Although Renault claims a top speed of 138, it’s not uncommon to see 145mph on the Speedo. The top speed is not important, it’s the acceleration and the road holding that makes this car a pocket rocket. For the price the Clio 172 leads the class and is a match for some cars in a higher price range.

The Clio 172 is fitted with "EBD", what does "EBD" stand for?

Electronic braking distribution. Electronic brakeforce distribution is a technology that automatically varies the amount of force applied to each of a vehicle's brakes, depending on road conditions, speed and loadings of the vehicle to maximize stopping power. The EBD works together with the ABS (Anti-lock Braking System). Vehicles fitted with EBD makes the car much more stable under heavy braking in all conditions. Electronic Stability Program "ESP" was available from 2003.

The 172 is the successor to the Clio Williams.

True. The Clio Williams was launched in 1993 with a build limit of 2500. The Clio Williams used a two litre 16-valve straight-4 engine rated at 150 PS. Renault claimed a top speed of 134mph and a 0/60 time of 7.8 s for this model. MK2 and MK3 versions would later become available. The only differences between the three models were mainly in cosmetic variations.

Considering the high performance of the Clio, what is the insurance group rating?

16. The Clio 172 does have a high group rating, but 16 is quite good considering the performance. If you are over 21 with a full license, and have maximum no claims bonus the cost of insurance is quite affordable.

What year did the "Cup" model make its debut?

2002. The Renault Clio Cup is 80kg lighter than the standard Clio 172s. The cup has the luxury items removed to save weight. The air-con, air-bags, spare wheel, xenon headlights and the leather interior are some of the items removed. The Cup has 16" Speedline Turini alloys. The front and rear tracks are both wider (by 20mm and 10mm). The ride height has also been lowered with the use of different springs, while the castor angle has been increased to help handling. With the weight loss the cup manages 0/60 in 6.8seconds. The top speed remains the same as the normal 172 at 138mph.

In January 2001, Titanium Silver (Bodywork) was replaced by what colour?

Ceberg Silver. From June 2001 other colours that were available were, yellow, blue, black and red. All the 172 models had colour coded bumpers, mirrors and side trims.

In what year was traction control fitted as standard?

2002. In July 2002, traction control was fitted as standard. The Cup version had the traction control removed to save weight. Traction control can work in several ways by either reducing the fuel supply to one or more cylinders, retard or suppress the spark to one or more cylinders or apply the brake to one or more road wheels. There are other ways traction control can work depending on different makes and models of vehicles.