The Clio V6 was based on the Clio Mk II, though it shares very few parts with that car. The 3.0 60° V6 ES9 engine, sourced from the PSA group was upgraded to around 230 PS (169 kW; 227 bhp) and placed in the middle of the vehicle where standard Clios have rear seats – making this car a two-seater hot hatch.

In order to accommodate the radical change from front-engine, front-wheel drive hatchback to mid-engine, rear-wheel drive two-seater quasi-coupé, the car had to be extensively reworked structurally, leading to the Phase 1 version being some 300 kg (660 lb) heavier than the sportiest "regular" Clio, the 172 Cup. Due to this, even though the V6 model had significantly more power, it was not remarkably faster in a straight line accelerating to legal road speeds than the 172 Cup – accelerating to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.2 seconds compared to the Cup's 6.7 seconds – though its maximum speed was significantly higher, 146 mph (235 km/h) compared to 138 mph (222 km/h). The raw sound and weight of the V6 engine just behind the driver and RWD made the driving experience very different from the normal front engined front…