The Clio Renaultsport has always been a bit of a ‘giant-killer’, capable of hanging on in the mirrors of far more exotic machinery.

The latest evolution with 197bhp (200PS) and revised suspension is even more capable than ever of upsetting the motoring aristocracy.

The brand new right-hand drive Clio Renaultsport 200 Cup we drove was made available to journalists at a recent driving extravaganza organised by the Society of Motoring Manufacturers (SMMT).

It’s an annual event allowing the motoring media to assess and compare as many of the latest models as possible in just one day.

With some of the best sports cars and even a couple of supercars to drive you might expect the Clio to fade into the background.

Not a bit of it. The majority of assembled journalists knew it would be something special, and the rest couldn’t miss it thanks to its bright green paint.

Stuck behind a supercar

Buzzing around Millbrook’s Alpine Handling course – an artificially recreated country lane with every evil camber and corner possible thrown in – it was easy to get stuck behind ‘traffic’ made up of powerful saloons and yes, even one or two of those supercars.

Accelerating from 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds and hitting a top speed of 141mph, it might not be able to match them on the adjacent high-speed two mile bowl, but it sure puts up a fight here.

The familiar surroundings of its Clio cabin, its light weight (1,204kg), supermini-sized body and stiff suspension make it waspish around the tight tree-lined circuit.

So much momentum can be carried through medium and fast bends it’s a good job the Brembo brakes offer great stopping power when you reach a sharp bend or hazard and need to shed speed.

Choose the Cup specification Clio we drove, or add the Cup suspension pack to the regular Clio 200 and you get 15 per cent stiffer dampers and springs 27 per cent stiffer at the front and 30 per cent stiffer at the rear, compared with the previous generation 197 Cup.

Understeer? What’s understeer?

It also features a front suspension design first seen on the Renaultsport Megane which reduces torque steer and improves steering precision.

Turn into a corner and understeer is almost non-existent in dry conditions. Though the steering may be light and a bit lacking in feel, it has pin-point accuracy.

For sheer handling ability and track day prowess the Clio Cup still leads the supermini pack.

When it arrives in the UK the Renaultsport Clio 200 will have quite a different personality to the Cup we have just driven.

It’s fitted with suspension 15 per cent softer than the Clio 197 and double-effect dampers which further improve ride comfort.

As before the Clio Cup is basic on the inside and features a dashboard from the entry-level Clio model and a short list of gadgets aimed at keeping weight as low as possible.

For around £1,000 extra the Clio 200 adds a ‘soft-touch’ dashboard and extra luxuries.

Of course, you also get the new styling of the latest Clio, but we mention this last because for us it really isn’t important as the driving experience.

The nose has been brought in line with the latest Megane and the Clio looks more modern, if not any prettier than before.

Its tailpipes have also been made much more aggressive and no longer sit flush with the diffuser under the rear of the car.

On the road it looks more purposeful than ever, which fittingly echoes its mechanical development. We’re just not sure we’d choose the green paint.

Equipment levels

Clio Renaultsport 200 Cup standard equipment includes the following;

• Electric windows
• Six airbags – auto-adaptive driver and passenger, lateral airbags and anti-submarining front seat airbags (the anti-submarining airbags are not fitted to the optional Recaro Renaultsport seats)
• ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution
• Disconnectable ESP stability control
• Rake-adjustable steering column
• Leather steering wheel
• Multi-function trip computer
• 4 x 20W RDS CD MP3 radio with fingertip steering column controls and RCA socket
• 17-inch Renaultsport alloy wheels
• ISOFIX child seat mounting points on outer rear seats
• Thatcham category 2 alarm system
• Drilled aluminium pedal facings
• RAID (Renault Anti Intruder Device) which automatically locks the doors at over 5mph
• Black door mirrors, gloss black finish to the rear diffuser and the centre section of the front bumper

The Clio Renaultsport 200 adds the following equipment:

• Climate control
• Renault Hands Free Keycard
• Reach-adjustable steering column
• Renaultsport leather steering wheel with yellow centre marking
• One-touch electric windows
• Cruise control
• Curtain airbags
• 17” Renaultsport alloy wheels in silver
• Front fog lamps
• Electrically-adjustable and heated door mirrors with gloss black finish
• Automatic headlamps and windscreen wipers
• ‘Soft-touch’ fascia with zinc-coloured matt finish to the centre console
• Body-coloured side mouldings

Check out this video of Renaultsport's junior hot hatch - the Twingo 133 Cup: