Renault has officially announced the return of the iconic Gordini badge.
The revived brand will help Renault take on the likes of the Mini Cooper and Abarth 500, offering an extensive personalisation of its hot hatches.
It won’t signal even sharper versions of the Twingo, Clio and Megane, however, with the Gordini range being mechanically identical.
Hilton Holloway: The return of Gordini
What customers will get are new wheels, colours and interior options for a premium over the Renaultsport cars.
Renault is keen to give its cars more of a premium edge and this is where the Gordinis will come in.
First up will be the Twingo Gordini RS, based on the Renaultsport Twingo 133, due to be unveiled on 25 November on the Champs Elysees.
The move is part of a masterplan by Renault to shake up the respected Renaultsport brand. Renaultsport GTs will now sit below the more potent Renaultsport RS models, with the Gordini brand even higher.
The first Renaultsport GT will be the Megane three-door, which is expected to use the existing 180bhp 2.0-litre turbo engine, but with beefed-up styling from the RS 250. Renaultsport GT versions of the Twingo and Clio will follow.
Twitter - follow autocar.co.ukSee all the latest Renault reviews, news and video
Join the debate
Add your comment
Re: Gordini badge is back
Jerry99: please re read the article, it is scraeming out so loudly that it's just a marketing gimic, desperately trying to cash in on a once great name.
As you have pointed out yourself, this is not Gordini cars were about, just the looks.They were primarily about the performance.
Amédée Gordini must be spinning in his grave at this news!, it's a disgrace!.
Re: Gordini badge is back
But does anybody remember what it stands for in the 21st century ? They were never as successful as Cooper at building racing cars.
Re: Gordini badge is back
A turd is a turd no matter what name you give it.