Renault Brazil is making it its business to let the whole world know that the first hot version of the Sandero hatch is on its way. Many new details have emerged, but let's talk about the videos first.
The latest teaser clip for the Sandero RS shows how the car joins the Megane RS and a cup racing version of the Fluence sedan on the track. This is our first clear glimpse of the new car's back end, which has a diffuser and the exhaust on one side, like the Clio GT.
We can also see that the Sandero RS will have a chopped suspension system, rumored to be 15mm lower and 20% stiffer. The alloy wheels are 17 inches in diameter and painted in the typical black of a Renaultsport car.
But the most interesting part is what is under the hood. Normally, the Sandero is available in Brazil with an anemic 1-liter engine making 70 80 hp. However, the RS model has twice the displacement. Its 2-liter naturally aspirated four-banger is based on the Duster 2.0 but has its output increased from 143 to 150 horsepower.
That's still 22 hp shy of the first Clio RS (172) and 50 hp less than the most powerful version of the 2-liter that Renault ever made (Clio RS 200). The Megane's turbo gives it as much as 125 hp more and about twice the torque, so don't take the overtaking scene seriously. Still, this will be the fastest Sandero ever, and a six-speed manual may ensure it's also fun to drive.
Bigger brakes, a ground-effects body kit and interior upgrades will all be part of the package.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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