Renault could replace Clio RS with electric Zoe RS

A few months ago, Renault announced the sporty version of its best-selling hatchback, the fifth-edition Clio and the people seem eager to get the exciting car. But sadly, the firm has dropped its plan to launch it because of the implication of tighter carbon dioxide emissions regulations.

The automaker made another announcement at the same time i.e. adding the new RS version of Zoe electric hatch in the portfolio.

As per the company's official, it could have been a wonderful experience for the customers to have RS models of Clio and Zoe both, but the sport Clio appeared as the no longer viable business proposition for the firm now.

In a recent interview, Ali Kasai, Renault’s executive vice-president of product planning said, “Today a Clio RS would need very elaborate technology to reach lower CO2 levels. And by keeping the high performance necessary for such a vehicle, you would have to charge such a big premium that those customers would be mostly unable to afford it. At the moment, even if we love sporty cars, as is our history, we can’t find the solution to that equation – it’s impossible.”

The imposition of new carbon emissions standards results in decreasing the profit margins of small cars and carmakers have started axing their portfolios in European micro car segment viz. Ford and Opel/Vauxhall.

The electrified Zoe e-Sport will have electric motors at both axles as compared to ongoing Zoe which has one electric motor and producing 462 PS of power and 640 Nm of torque. It can do a run of 0-100 kmph in 3.2 seconds.

On the contrary, the RS trophy variant of current fourth-gen Clio delivers 220 PS of power and 280 Nm of torque and claims the run of 0-100 kmph sprint in 6.6 seconds.

Besides Renault, Peugeot is also planning to launch an electric replacement for its hot hatchback model 208 GTi.

Also read: Renault Koleos Formula Edition launched in Australia