The mid-engine Renault Clio V6 hatch is the sort of car you don't expect an automaker company to actually build. Sure, they might make a concept or a racing version, but to sell a car like this to the public? It almost never happens. That's why it remains one of Renault's coolest cars ever.
Harry Metcalfe from Harry's Garage on YouTube recently got ahold of a Clio V6 Phase 2, and brought in a regular Clio Trophy to see just how much was changed in the transformation from front-engine hot hatch to mid-engine monster. From a quick glance, you'd think the car's are nearly identical on the outside, but that's far from the case. Though the glass is the same, almost every panel has been stretched or widened to accommodate a more aggressive, purposeful stance. The grille is bigger, the fenders are flared, and the whole car is significantly lower to the ground.
Though it looks like a Clio inside, Metcalfe says the driving feel is totally different from the moment you set out. The ride is stiffer, the gearing is shorter, the sound is coming from the back, and, of course, it's faster. It may look like a Clio, but in reality, it's a totally different beast.
Brian Silvestro is Hearst Autos' former lead deputy editor for rankings content. He spent over seven years as a staff writer for Road & Track Magazine where he contributed car reviews, industry interviews, and more. He has a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.
