massiveCoRbyn
ClioSport Club Member
Several
This isn't just a simple update though. Fitting a whole new engine and transmission is a major reworking of the vehicle. If it's required repositioning of components in the engine bay, such as intercoolers, PAS gumph, brake parts, it would effect crash performance. The bigger engine might mean different interaction with the passenger compartment, or altering the way the front end crushes. Even if the external engine geometry is the same, the change in engine/transmission weight alone will effect crash performance. The new body work could also effect pedestrian protection. The amount of work that goes into crash-worthiness alone is unreal.
I'm not that familiar with how similar the Megane parts are to parts that might have already been used in other Clio models, but if the engine and box shares little with other Clio engines and boxes, then there are an awful lot of legislative hoops that they might have to jump through in order to sell the car. That's before you consider durability testing, NVH testing and all the other stuff they will be having to think about.
If they plan on making 10,000 of them, then those costs are much easier to justify, but if they only make 1000, they either have to suck up a huge loss on each car for the benefit of marketing, or make the cars uber expensive.
I might be proved wrong, they might go for a full-on mass produced model, but I don't know if I can see them doing that. I don't know what they'd have to gain from it. All I'm saying is that it's very easy to underestimate the cost to produce a car like this for retail, so it might not be the magic bullet that some people are hoping for. As I say, I shall reserve judgement until more information comes out.
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