Melbourne show: Renault Clio goes F1

THE latest rendition of the Clio hot hatch, the Clio Renault Sport F1 Team R27, takes pride of place on the Renault stand at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

The 40 individually numbered cars go on sale in April for $39,990.

The Clio Renault Sport 197 F1 Team R27 features ‘Cup Chassis’ suspension settings (like the existing Clio Renault Sport 197), 17-inch charcoal colour alloy wheels, red brake callipers, Recaro front seats and Renault F1 Team decals.

The standard colour choice is between Toro Red and Glacier White, while Victory Yellow is optional at $1000.

Also on the Renault stand and due on sale in April are new models to flesh out the Laguna III Hatch diesel range introduced last June.

The new models in the Hatch range include the entry-level Laguna Expression diesel manual at $41,990 (the only manual in the range), the Expression petrol at $42,490, and the Privilege petrol at $47,990, joining the Expression diesel (remaining at $44,990 and the Privilege diesel (which has gone down $700 to $49,990).

Also on show is the Laguna Estate, which arrives in April in three automatic-only variants – the Expression petrol and diesel for $45,490 and $47,490 respectively and Dynamic diesel for $49,990.

Renault is also displaying a limited-edition Megane Cabriolet Exception, which features satin chrome roof silhouette and two-tone leather interior and starts at $44,990.

Three varieties of the Koleos compact SUV introduced last year complete the Renault stand.

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