Renault Clio RS18 celebrates 2018 F1 season

Renault has revealed a special edition Clio RS18 to mark the opening of the 2018 F1 season.

Though it shares standard 162kW/280Nm tune with the current Renault Clio RS 220 Trophy, the RS18 scores F1 team-inspired styling inside and out.

Additionally, its chassis has been lowered and stiffened, and hydraulic compression stops are found at the front dampers.

It features RS18 badging on the front doors, an RS double-diamond logo on the roof, as well as Liquid Yellow highlights along the front bar, side trim, and wheel caps.

Almost everything else is completely black, making it look a little meaner than a Clio usually would.

It’ll sound mean, too, with an Akrapovic exhaust fitted for more brap-and-bark.

It’s also a very limited edition, with only 10 units being available in Australia.

Renault Sport Cars product manager for Clio RS Quentin Audiffren says the car is a way for Renault fans to celebrate F1.

“Renault Sport customers share our passion for motorsport,” says Audiffren.

“With this limited-edition model – which is based on the technical foundations of the Clio R.S. 220 EDC Trophy – we are proud to be able to offer them the very best of our engineering expertise.

“Its sporting credentials are expressed by a number of design flourishes drawn directly from the world of Formula 1.

“The Renault Clio R.S.18 is an eloquent illustration of the close bond that exists between our motorsport activities and our road cars.”

The first RS18 to roll off the production line will be shown at the 2018 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.