The Dacia Sandero may be a budget hatchback in Europe, but in Brazil, it wears a diamond badge and is a hot hatch. The Renault Sandero RS 2.0 – Brazil’s best-selling hot hatch according to its maker – gets a limited edition named Racing Spirit, unveiled last week at the Curitiba Renault Sport Track Day.
The Sandero RS 2.0 Racing Spirit is in black, with red black calipers and wheel centre caps. The hatch’s F1-style blade, wing mirrors and rear diffuser are also in the racy colour, and “Racing Spirit” side stripes with RS’ chequered flag pattern complete the exterior makeover. The 17-inch alloys are paired with Michelin PS4 tyres (regular car comes with Continental Sport Contact 3s).
The Brazilian-made hot Sandero carries the same theme inside. Red trim is found on the side AC vents and speedometer, and the seats sport red stripes and stitching. The roof is now in black and gloss black trim appears on the centre console and door grips. There’s a numbered plate between the seats with the limited edition serial number.
The Sandero RS 2.0 is powered by a 2.0 litre engine pushing out 150 PS and 205 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The naturally aspirated motor is paired to a six-speed manual gearbox for a delightfully old school combo that one can no longer find in mainstream European RS products. 0-100 km/h is done in eight seconds flat and top speed is 202 km/h. With RS suspension tuning, the Sandero RS 2.0 sounds like a fun little hatch.
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How about the price over there? I wondering if a similar car like this selling affordably in msia, IR should sell very well.
Frenchies dun sell well here at whatever the prices. Just ask them toyota salesmen here.
A 2.0 with 150 PS/205 Nm of torque used 2 be called a Hot HB in M’sia 10 years ago.
Looks like M’sia is more advance compare 2 Brazil when they call the Renault Sandero RS 2.0 a ‘Hot’ HB.
At least we have Clio RS & Megane RS for those who like French Hot Hatch.
Now that I’ve open up the debate, lets hope someone will add more comments(bashing me also can la) to a boring subject. Cheers ….
My Focus MK3 shud be call a Hot-Hatch too since it produced 170 hp / 202 Nm Torque.
James May : Good new… oh c*ck, they’ve ruined it by making a Nurburgring edition, rubbish!