Renault Clio GT bound for Oz

The French brand today confirmed it will introduce a GT variant to its new Clio range – a model built to strike a compromise between the base Clio city car and the hardcore Clio RS.

Called the GT 120 EDC, the new model boasts a unique rear bumper design, wide-set LED lights, twin exhausts, tinted rear glass and new 17-inch wheels.

Inside, bolstered seats and gearshift paddles further enforce the GT’s sporting pretensions, while under the bonnet lies the same 88kW/190Nm 1.2-litre turbo-petrol used in the Clio Expression and Dynamique.

Like its bigger Megane GT brother, the Clio GT’s chassis has been tuned by the brand’s RS performance arm, which has upped spring and damper rates 40 and 30 percent respectively to improve handling.

As for pricing, the GT will slot in between the regular Renault Clio and RS models, meaning a starting price of around $25,000.

Sales will begin in April.