Photo: DjPain via Flickr
The Renault Clio Williams, based on the first generation of the French automaker’s ultra-popular city runabout, first made its debut in 1993. Renault announced that they would be making a very limited number of examples (only 3,800 units), in order to get the car homologated for racing, despite the fact that the number of cars they needed for homologation was 2,500.
However, since demand was so great, they ended up making 1,600 more, reaching a grand total of 5,400 Series I cars ever made. Counting the Williams 2 and Williams 3, which were improved versions of the first car, Renault made a total of 12,100 examples.
But what was so special about this seemingly run-of-the-mill car? Well, it had a superb chassis with excellent balance, a great 2.0-liter petrol engine with 150 hp, which enabled the car to reach a top speed of 215 km/h (134 mph). It also featured wider front and rear track, to aid stability and handling.
The Clio Williams will be remembered for its pokey engine, dark blue paintwork and unique rims, finished in gold. It is a true hot hatch icon, and one which could still show a few modern equivalents the right way round a track with no trouble at all.
But what was so special about this seemingly run-of-the-mill car? Well, it had a superb chassis with excellent balance, a great 2.0-liter petrol engine with 150 hp, which enabled the car to reach a top speed of 215 km/h (134 mph). It also featured wider front and rear track, to aid stability and handling.
The Clio Williams will be remembered for its pokey engine, dark blue paintwork and unique rims, finished in gold. It is a true hot hatch icon, and one which could still show a few modern equivalents the right way round a track with no trouble at all.
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