Renault Clio Tuning

Launched in 1990 Renault moved away from giving their cars numbers and started to use names.The car was sold as a credible city car for trendy people and has enjoyed particular success doing much for Renaults reputation as a manufacturer. It wasn't until 1993 when we saw a real performance Clio introduced with the arrival of the Clio Williams with a 16v 2.0 engine producing 150 bhp.It went to show what Clio Tuning is able to achieve and got a lot of performance enthusiasts interested in the Clio.Clio tuning took off when Renault released the Williams model, with their new RS lineup the car is attractive as a practical hot hatch.



The best models from a tuning point of view arrived in 1998 where the Clio RS or Renault Sport was introduced. Non sport models would benefit greatly from the addition of uprated suspension and anti roll bar. We have seen recent Clios setup for the track from Renault Sport who just keep upping the power output of the engine. Power is all well and good but you need to get that power down to the road. TorqueCars recommend a Torque Sensing or Torsen diff to help with traction. It can dramatically cut lap times and greatly improves handling on the Clio when powering out of corners.The 1.6 and lower engines do not offer much tuning potential and most owners wanting to tune these look to do an engine swap usually going for the 2.0 engine. A set of fast road cams and breathing mods Exhaust and Intake will raise power levels of the 2.0 to a credible 180 bhp. Of the 2.0 engines we would recommend the RS over the standard 16v engine as these offer greater tuning flexibility. The Williams engines are quite rare so are hard to recommend as engine swap candidates unless you can find one. The flagship Clio is the 3.0 V6 with its mid mounted rear drive engine. The whole body has been widened and early cars were a little tail happy in the wet. With some suspension revisions it is possible to correct this. Look out for 3.0 V6 requiring a cam belt change as this is a very expensive job, the engine location makes it pretty hard to work on. There are also some interesting engine swaps going on with in various Clio Tuning projects and we are seeing the humble Clio keeping up with much faster cars on the track. Handling modifications are usually your first port of call for the Clio. Drop the car by as much as 35mm and fit stiffer dampers, bigger drops will need other modifications in most instances. Our aim in Clio engine tuning should be to increase peak power and Torque at the top end. The best power gains come from larger engine sizes. The more you start with the bigger the return on investment so engine swaps are good value mods for small engined cars.


Renault Clio Tuning modifications

Peak power is all well and good but a drivable and fun car needs a wide power band and lots of low down torque. One of the best mechanical mods you can do is to fit a fast road cam. When pushing up the power you will need to pay close attention to your Clios fuelling. More power needs more fuel - it's a simple as that Uprating the injectors is another beneficial modification and will deliver sufficient fuel. Uprate the fuel pump to cope with the extra fuel requirements of your tuned Clios uprated injectors.

Renault clio

 Since its original launch in 1990, the Renault Clio has consistently been one of Britain’s best selling cars and it’s easy to see why. Here, the Auto Trader team celebrates some of the best models to grace our garages.

Genesis – Renault 5
  The Clio had to come from somewhere, and that somewhere was the humble Renault 5. Born in 1972, it cemented Renault’s reputation for building small, practical and fun cars for an affordable price. The 5 saw several changes over the years, but largely remained the same iconic car until it was retired in 1996 – by which time it had been sold alongside the Clio for 5 years. When retirement came though, the Clio had successfully taken over from where the 5 had left off, securing its future as one of our favourite small cars.

 The First Generation Clio

  Hitting the streets of Europe in 1990 and the UK in 1991, the Clio was a winner from the start. The range of small-capacity engines as well as frugal diesel options meant there was something for every buyer. There were more trim options too, including a sporty 1.8RSi and 16 Valve versions for those looking for a more ‘spirited’ drive, though there were plenty of choices for those simply looking for a comfortable and practical hatchback. Comfy, economical and versatile, the Clio was bought by thousands, securing its future in the process. The Clio’s success was also recognised on a grand scale, too, as it won the prestigious European Car of the Year award in 1991. Yet again, Renault had hit the nail on the head.

Spotlight – Clio Williams

  While there was a 1.8 16 Valve version available, Renault decided to celebrate their Formula 1 involvement with Williams by releasing a limited run of dedicated ‘hot’ cars branded the ‘Clio Williams’. Fitted with a 150bhp 2.0 16 valve engine, gold Speedline alloys, uprated brakes and suspension as well as improved interior trim and the all-important build-plaque on the dash, the ‘Williams’ really was something special. Available only in ‘449 Sports Blue’, it was car that was coveted to such an extent that Renault had to build over 1500 more than the original 3800 it said it would! There were three generations of ‘Williams’ Clio, though it’s the first which is still to this day, regarded as one of the best ever cars to drive.

The Second Generation Clio

  Something of a wild departure from the more restrained styling of its predecessor, the 1998 phase 2 Clio was bolder and braver in terms of both aesthetics and ergonomics. It was a design that paid off though, because yet again it sold in hugely impressive numbers. Customers responded well to the adventurous and curvy styling, while the incredibly comfortable and user friendly interior simply sweetened the prospect of Clio ownership. Again, economy was a big selling point, so 1.2, 1.4 and revised diesel engines all appeared in the brochure. However, much like the first generation, Renault offered a selection of ‘sport’ options including a 16 Valve version. For those looking for real power though, it had to be the Clio Renaultsport 172, of which the number hints towards the 2.0 16 valve engine’s power output.

Spotlight – Clio Renaultsport

  Just like every Clio before it, the Third Generation car has a mean and aggressive version available in the line-up too, most notably the Clio Renaultsport. Powered by a 197bhp 2.0 16 valve engine it certainly maintains the ethos of past, fast Clios, and with impressive levels of trim and equipment it certainly shines when compared to some of its rivals. Quick, safe and rewarding to drive thanks to a perfectly tuned chassis, the Clio Renaultsport is every bit the contemporary driver’s car the ‘Williams’ was back in the 90s. With its wide arches, swish alloys, sports seats and re-worked gearbox it really is something that can remind you of the pure fun that can be extracted from a simple B-road blast!