It's been a long, long time. Too long?
New Gordini versions of the compact Twingo and Clio models will join the Renault Sport range next spring.
It is the first time the name has been used in decades, and the cars are just editions of existing RS models with Gordini paint and stripes.
Twingo Gordini RS will be unveiled on 25 November at L’Atelier Renault on the Champs Elysées in Paris as part of the “Christmas in Blue” exhibition. It will be launched next spring.
Clio Gordini RS will follow during the summer.
The blue is a reference to Gordini garb from the past that used French blue, white stripes and four round headlights as cues, which all contributed to the identity of a series of rally cars over a 20-year period.
Schneider wore less.
Aside from making Gordinis an important part of Renault’s sporting heritage, the cars slipped over into popular culture as well.
The revived version won’t have the four headlights, alas, but then again I still miss the yellow French headlights that were a product of WW2 blackouts as well.
Renault claims that the “fashionable and sporty Gordini label still possesses its exclusive and sporting values.”
The blue refers to Gordini garb using French blue, white stripes and four round headlights.
Amédée Gordini developed almost 200,000 Renault vehicles over a 20-year period, and achieved some of the brand’s greatest racing successes.
Born in 1899, just about one year after the launch of the very first Renault vehicle, Gordini demonstrated his mechanical skills from an early age. The Gordini firm in conjunction with Simca competed in Formula One from 1950-56.
He then linked with Renault as a performance tuner, and eventually sold his firm to the company.
His R8 Gordini finished 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th in the 1964 Tour of Corsica rally. In 1966, the 1300 version marked the birth of the Gordini Cup.
The R8 Gordini was featured in French films alongside famous stars, including Romy Schneider, Alain Delon and Lino Ventura.
The small sports sedan was a big hit with the then younger generation of drivers who are now in their senior years. The question is will a younger generation embrace the concept one again. The Megane RS, Clio RS and Twingo RS are doing nicely without the Gordini paint and stripes.
Kangoo EV, no surprise here, to be built in France
Qu'est-ce que tu as dit?
In an unrelated separate announcement, Renault has also confirmed that it will produce the future electric version of its Kangoo Express at Maubeuge Carrosserie Automobile in northern France, starting in the first half of 2011.
The electric vehicle will be built on the same production line as the internal combustion models the decidedly trendy Kangoo, Kangoo Express and Kangoo be bop models.
The Kangoo EV is mainly intended for urban and — in a delightfully charming French translation — “peri-urban” use.
So I’ll try one of my own: Qu’est-ce que tu as dit?