Welcome to the fifth and last in the current series of videos set to answer the crucial question: will it drift?
Having taken four 4WD hot hatchbacks - the new 2021 Volkswagen Golf R, the latest Mercedes-AMG A45 S, the Toyota GR Yaris and a Mk3 Ford Focus RS - around the new low-grip skidpan at Thruxton, now's the turn of the ace in the pack: the deliciously nutty, V6-engined, rear-wheel-drive Renaultsport Clio V6. Perhaps we should rename this episode 'will it spin'. Because the answer's yes. A lot.
The first Clio V6 emerged in 2001, having been engineered for Renault by TWR. Instead of having a smaller engine sitting between its front wheels, it adopted a 3.0-litre transverse V6 mounted between its rear wheels, and driving those rear wheels exclusively with anything up to 227bhp. The facelifted 2003 we're testing got a power boost to 247bhp but otherwise the same unconventional layout of major mechanical components.
This series complements a written Autocar feature about torque vectoring, that includes full technical details and interviews with the engineers behind these cars, which you can read here.
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I know the look of frustration on Matt's face, I've experienced much the same on the MIRA wet grip circles with a Porsche 964RS, which I'd guess is almost as difficult to control in these circumstances as the Clio. The 964 RS has many of the same "attributes", rear engined ( more so than the Clio ), very stiff springs, very aggresive LSD, limited steering lock, and a lightening throttle response. I couldn't complete one lap , but my instructor for the day, John Lyon, who was there almost every week managed after a bit of practice !