Looking after the Renault owners
of Surrey for over 24 years
SMC Renault - Renault Sport
See the product Videos at the bottom of the page
Here at SMC Renault we have a long tradition of involvement with Renaultsport on and off the track during our 24 year association with the franchise.
SMC Renault Group were the sponsors of Jim Edwards Junior in the 2007 Clio Cup Championship, which took part at all of the major race circuits in the Uk from the spring through to the Autumn.
Jim had a mixed sesion during which time he remained very competitive throughout and finished on the podium on a two occasions, culminating in a win on the Saturday race at Thruxton at Round 11 and finishing 4th in the overall championship.
A good first season back for the 2001 Renault 5 GT Turbo champion.
Well done Jim !
16/01/2008 World record byTerry Grant who completes record j-turn
Stunt driver Terry Grant has set a new Guinness World Record in a Renault Twingo.
During a performance at the Autosport Show, which ran alongside the PH Show, Grant spun the small French hatchback through a gap 18 centimetres more than the length of the car.
In front of a sell-out crowd at the Live Action Arena at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre Grant reversed the Twingo and spin it through barriers that were just 378 centimetres apart.
The crucial measurement for Grant was the diagonal size of the Twingo.
At 370 centimetres, this left Terry with just four centimetres gap between the barriers.
Terry said: ‘For this record, the car needs great agility, visibility and pinpoint accuracy.
‘The Twingo has it in spades! Best of all, despite up to six shows each day and numerous practice runs, it was bomb-proof! You couldn`t drive many cars home after that sort of punishment.’
The previous World Record for a J-turn was set on 9 April 1999 in Munich Germany when Russ Swift spun a car though a gap 172 centimetres longer than the length of the car.
A J-turn is defined by Guinness World Records as turning a car through 180º from reversing in a straight line to driving forwards in a straight line.
06/11/2007 RENAULT ANNOUNCES PRICE FOR NEW CLIO RENAULTSPORT 197 CUP
New Clio Renaultsport 197 ‘Cup’ priced at £14,995 - £1,000 less than current standard Clio Renaultsport 197
Taller fifth and sixth gear ratios for more relaxed motorway cruising on all Clio Renaultsport 197 models
Renault responds to customer demand and introduces new option of non-metallic white paint throughout the range at just £150
‘Cup’ chassis now available as an option on standard Clio Renaultsport 197
Ordering open now, in UK showrooms from December
As the biggest market for Renaultsport cars, the UK’s love affair with the ever-popular hot hatch is set to increase even further as Renault throws down the gauntlet to its rivals with ordering now open for the eagerly-awaited Clio Renaultsport 197 Cup, priced at just £14,995 - £1,000 less than the standard version.
The ‘Cup’ chassis, which made its debut on the limited edition Clio Renaultsport 197 F1 Team R27, has already received immense acclaim and Renault is confident that the Clio Renaultsport 197 Cup will repeat the success of its predecessors, the much-loved Clio Renaultsport 172 Cup and 182 Cup.
Both cars endeared themselves to many enthusiasts who could do without some of the luxury equipment of the normal car in search of more performance and the added benefit of a lower price. The Clio Renaultsport 197 Cup is designed to have a similar effect with some new changes, such as the removal of heavier equipment to enhance performance and reduce price.
Performance as standard
The Cup chassis has been specifically designed to deliver top performance and handling, with a 7mm reduction in ride height to enhance performance when cornering, uprated springs by + 27% at the front and + 30% at the rear and stiffer dampers (+10%) for enhanced handling, steering precision and stability.
With immediate effect, for more relaxed motorway driving, the Cup models, as well as the rest of the Clio Renaultsport range, feature taller fifth and sixth gear ratios, raised from 16.1 mph/ 1,000 rpm to 17.1 in fifth and from 18.9 mph/ 1,000 to 20.5 in sixth.
The 197 Cup has been stripped down to its bare essentials, ensuring it is all about performance at a very competitive price. The interior dashboard and centre console has been taken from Renault’s entry-level Clio Extreme model, whilst some items of equipment, which come as standard on the Clio Renaultsport 197, air conditioning and curtain airbags have been moved to the options list for the Cup version, priced at £525 and £200 respectively.
The two other options available for the Clio Renaultsport 197 Cup are Renault i.d. 17” Speedline alloy wheels in satin black at £175 and, in keeping with ‘Cup’ tradition, lightweight Renaultsport Recaro seats at £850.
Other equipment such as cruise control, speed limiter and electric door mirrors, have been removed entirely or replaced. For example, the Renault Hands Free keycard with steering wheel height and reach adjustment. The Cup has a traditional standard key with remote-control door locking. The steering wheel has height adjustment only.
Stand out from the crowd
The Clio Renaultsport 197 Cup will be instantly identifiable with its red Brembo brake calipers, 17” Anthracite alloy wheels and exclusive ‘Cup’ badges on the base of the B-pillar in line with the rear windows.
To ensure the car stands out from the crowd even further, the Cup is only available in three colours. Non-metallic Racing Blue is standard, whilst metallic Nimbus (grey) is a £360 option. For the first time ever, Renault is offering the option of ‘i.d.’ (individual design) Glacier White on the Clio Renaultsport 197 Cup, priced at £150.
New options for standard Clio Renaultsport 197
There are a number of new options available on the standard Clio Renaultsport 197 including the ‘Cup’ chassis, a £400 option on the standard Clio Renaultsport 197, which includes the 17” Anthracite dark-grey alloy wheels and red brake calipers.
To make the exterior of your 197 even sportier, there are a number of ‘i.d.’ options available including Speedline wheels in black with satin finish (£175).
Available to order now
The New Clio Renaultsport 197 Cup is available to order now at just £14,995 - £1,000 less than the standard version.
Insurance groups are still to be confirmed, but are expected to be competitive.
27/06/2007 The Mégane Renaultsport 230 F1 Team R26 now available in Glacier White
The Mégane Renaultsport 230 is now available non-metallic colour, glacier white, which will be exclusively available for Mégane Renault F1 Team R26. A cool, brilliant white that offers the perfect canvas to show off the Renault F1 Team decal kit and the red brake callipers which characterize this very sporty version
A wealth of equipment will be added at the same time. On top of the multifunctional tune point and bluetooth kit just added to the option list, the Cabasse 6 Cd radio and a lux pack are going to be made available from September ordering. The lux pack will include full leather interior, centre front armrest and Renault hands free card.
04/03/ 08 NEW TWINGO RENAULTSPORT 133 (Coming September 2008) See Video below
Unveiled in Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris, on 31 January by the drivers of the ING Renault F1 Team, Twingo Renaultsport 133 is a high-performance, affordable entry point into the Renaultsport range.
Its compact proportions and sharp styling echo the Twingo Concept show car which was a star of the 2006 Paris Motor Show. Twingo’s distinctive looks have been made more incisive on the new flagship Renaultsport version thanks to wider front and rear wings, sculpted side skirts and an aerodynamic spoiler which all point to the car’s sporting character. Inside, the cabin has been tailored for focused sports driving, with a number of exclusive details: Renaultsport seats featuring enhanced lateral support, aluminium pedals, a leather steering wheel and a specific rev counter.
The enjoyable handling of Twingo Renaultsport 133 combines driving enjoyment, performance and impeccable safety. The two Renaultsport chassis settings available feature wider front and rear tracks than lesser models. The standard ESP can be manually deactivated, ensuring the car is easy to use on a day-to-day basis while maintaining its sporty credentials.
Twingo Renaultsport 133 is powered by a normally-aspirated 1.6-litre 16V engine developed by Renault Sport Technologies. The engine delivers 133hp at 6,750rpm with 160Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. The unit’s punchy character is reinforced by the deeper engine note, which has been the focus of specific development. The four-into-one exhaust is a technological feat, striking a perfect balance between acoustics, performance and emissions.
Sporting looks designed for performance To round off the Renaultsport range alongside Clio and Mégane Renaultsport, Renault has designed an affordable, high-performance hot hatch with bags of character. Twingo Renaultsport’s compact proportions and sharp styling embody its fun-to-drive, sporty nature, and are reminiscent of the Twingo Concept show car. Additional cooling for the 133hp engine is provided by a wide Renaultsport air-intake grille in the front bumper. The sculpted side sills, coupled with wider front and rear wings, underline Twingo Renaultsport’s assertive character. At the rear, the chromed exhaust tail pipe emerges through a two-tone bumper. The foglamp surrounds, door mirrors and aerodynamic spoiler all sport the same shade of dark grey. As an option, Renaultsport decals can be added to the flanks or rear bumper. Inspired by the chequered flag, these designs conjure up images of the world of motor sport.
Twingo Renaultsport 133 is fitted with 195-section tyres mounted on aluminium alloy wheels. They house substantial brake discs and calipers which provide powerful, durable braking performance. The new Twingo range-topper also introduces a new colour to the Renaultsport range, with the new Mirage Grey echoing Twingo Concept. Three other metallic shades are available (Pearl Black, Extreme Blue and Mercury) in addition to Capsicum Red.
Sports styling inside The ergonomic driving position boasts several motor sport features, centred around the driver: aluminium pedals, four-spoke perforated leather steering wheel with dark charcoal stitching and a stitched red marker at the straight ahead point. Not only does this design offer increased comfort, it allows the driver a perfect grip in the ‘ten-to-two’ position. The rev-counter is located directly behind the steering wheel, echoing racing car design. Employing a specific typeface, the numbers grow in size as the needle approaches the red line at 7,000rpm. Just like in the cockpit of the ING Renault F1 Team’s R28 Formula 1 car, the rev-counter features a gear change alert to warn the driver as the engine approaches maximum revs.
The dark charcoal interior trim neatly expresses sporting performance. Offering additional lateral support and with excellent levels of comfort, the specific Renaultsport seats allow the driver to feel at one with the car. The colour of the Blood Orange seat belts matches the contrasting stitching on the upholstery.
As with all cars developed by Renault Sport Technologies, the Renaultsport logo can be found inside the cabin, on the rev-counter, the door sills and the front seats. Outside, the badge features on the rear hatch and engine air filter.
Combining sports performance with everyday use With Twingo Renaultsport, the experts at Renault Sport Technologies have conquered two challenges with one car: combining true sports performance with day-to-day driveability.
This little high-performance car offers genuine driving enjoyment in total safety. The responsive, balanced chassis uses the excellent Twingo platform, and has been tuned to offer precise, consistent sports handling. ESP is fitted as standard to allow the driver to retain control in slippery conditions. However, the system can be manually deactivated and, combined with the absence of emergency braking assist, this reinforces the car’s sporty character. The assistance of the electric power steering has been tuned to offer sharp, precise response to the driver’s instructions at the wheel. Twingo Renaultsport 133 guarantees powerful, durable braking thanks to ventilated discs and bearings inherited from Mégane II, while the calipers are inherited from the New Laguna.
A composed, balanced platform Just like all other models in the Renaultsport range, the newcomer offers two chassis options. On both, the track has been widened by 60mm at the front and 59mm at the rear compared to Twingo GT. These modifications improve stability and lateral grip.
The front suspension is a pseudo-MacPherson type arrangement, with aluminium lower arms. The adoption of pushrods on the dampers improves the performance of the anti-roll bar for even better body control.
Twingo Renaultsport’s suspension is based on an H-type programmed deflection rear beam. To improve ride and comfort, the dampers are mounted vertically and coupled with variable rate coil springs. The 24mm diameter rear anti-roll bar (compared to 22.5mm on Twingo GT) brings a stiffness gain of 25%. The anti-roll performance has been calibrated to improve rear-end agility.
The set-up of the standard chassis was honed for the best and safest balance between driving enjoyment and performance. Compared to Twingo GT, the chassis features a lower centre of gravity, thanks to a 10mm lower ride height. Stiffer springs (+30% compared to Twingo GT) and up-rated dampers (also +30%) add to the car’s sporty handling, while firmer bushing has enhanced suspension performance front and rear. The Twingo Renaultsport 133 chassis is fitted with 195/45 tyres on 16” alloy wheels.
A performance-focused Cup chassis Twingo Renaultsport 133 is also available with an optional Cup chassis for incisive handling and maximum driving enjoyment. In this configuration, Twingo Renaultsport offers handling to satisfy the demands of any enthusiast. This chassis offers optimum body control and its natural home is on the track, where flat cornering and improved corner speed demonstrate its effectiveness.
The Cup chassis rides a further 4mm lower than the standard setting, and its lower centre of gravity improves in-corner performance thanks to reduced weight transfer. Tuned damper settings and higher spring rates (10% stiffer front and rear) bring greater performance through better body control.
Outside, the Cup chassis stands out by its larger, anthracite-coloured 17-inch aluminium alloy wheels with 195/40 tyres.
A punchy, flexible engine Twingo Renaultsport 133 is powered by a normally-aspirated 1.6-litre 16V engine (K4M RS) which delivers 133hp at 6,750rpm and 160Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. The free-revving engine offers flexible performance and instantaneous throttle response. At low revs and in the mid-range below 4,500 rpm, Twingo Renaultsport offers lively, easy performance for everyday use. Beyond 4,500rpm, Twingo Renaultsport gives full vent to its sporting character with true punchy performance.
The 133hp 1.6 litre 16V engine has been developed from the 1,598cc petrol engine. The improved power and torque are the result of a number of modifications and improvements to the mechanical components:
The air filling rate has been improved thanks to a specific throttle valve unit and aluminium plenum chamber, plus revised diameters and lengths for the air-inlets.
To improve air intake and facilitate gas flow, research was carried out on the aerodynamics of the valve seats. The calibration of the camshafts was revised to a longer opening of the valves and higher lift (11mm compared to an average of 9mm).
The design of the combustion chamber and piston enables a high compression ratio of 11.0:1, leading to enhanced combustion and efficiency and reduced harmful emissions.
The continuously-variable inlet camshaft improves performance right across the rev range. The actuator varies the timing setting to optimise valve opening and closing.
Sports performance and acoustic enjoyment The experts at Renault Sport Technologies have worked hard to give the Twingo Renaultsport 133 an engine note in keeping with its sporting character. The engine noise is minimal at low revs, but builds mid-way through the rev range to become ‘fiery’ when pushed to its limits.
The four-into-one exhaust manifold, made from thin-walled steel, forms the object of a patent by Renault Sport Technologies. The technological feat is to have combined four long steel tubes in such a restricted space. This architecture offers an excellent trade-off between acoustics, performance and emissions. Indeed, the engine has been designed to be able to comply with Euro5 legislation.
Twingo Renaultsport 133 is fitted with a revised version of the five-speed manual gearbox (JR5). The closely-spaced ratios are linked to a fast and precise shift mechanism to favour crisp acceleration in all gears.
The Renault Sport Technologies entry-level model Twingo Renaultsport 133 is the latest model in the Renault Sport Technologies range, and will reach market late in the third quarter of 2008 in Western Europe. This latest example of Renault’s hot hatch prowess rounds off the Renaultsport family alongside Clio and Mégane Renaultsport.
With nearly 13,000 registrations in 40 countries in 2007, the Renaultsport range registered an increase in volume of more than 50% compared to 2006. The arrival of the new Twingo Renaultsport 133 will help the Group expand its presence even further in the hot hatch market. Great Britain is the number one market for Renaultsport vehicles, and should account for a third of sales. France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Switzerland are expected to share approximately 55% of registrations.
Pricing, specification and technical information to be made available nearer to UK launch in October.
