The all-new Renault Clio receives its show debut at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, and with it comes the tantalising prospect of the next generation of Renaultsport cars, the first of which is to be called the Clio Renaultsport 2.0, previewed at the show in the form of the Clio Renaultsport Concept.

External modifications to the new Clio shape are remarkably restrained for a concept car, suggesting that the production version will not be very different, though there are quite a few changes to the bodywork. The most obvious cues are the bulging wheelarches (the fronts featuring extractor vents said to improve aerodynamics as well as aid engine cooling), new bumpers and side skirts. The nose features a chrome-zinc mesh grille in the bumper, flanked by protruding fog lamps. Bespoke eighteen-inch alloys are complemented by the sculpted flanks, leading to the smooth rear end.

You may have noticed the lack of a rear roof spoiler, usually de rigueur on a hot hatch. If you look a little closer you'll see that the rear bumper instead houses a diffuser, with the dual exhausts shaped to stay out of the way of the controlled airflow. If this feature makes it to production (and we think it will), then Renault will be the first to offer such technology in this market segment, though readers of Max Power etc. won't improve...

Though the exterior is pretty much the car we will see in the showrooms in 2006, the interior of the show car is much more in keeping with the 'concept' tag. Four individual, futuristically shaped bucket seats are divided by a prominent central section, again in chrome-zinc. The dashboard itself is based on the production car's, but is trimmed in classy red and grey leather. The regular instrument cluster houses some natty new instruments and a gear change light. We know that the production car will feature a 2-litre 16v engine, probably allied to a six-speed manual, but power output is as yet unknown. It should be knocking on the 200bhp door though.

Shane O' Donoghue - 19 Aug 2005