Renaultsport's Engineers Are Contemplating A Hybrid Hot Hatch

When I drove the Audi A3 e-tron this week, it left me with one over-riding impression: Why can’t all cars be hybrids? Yes, traditionally the technology has been associated with mundane anti-petrolhead motors like the Prius, but with the recent round of hypercars it’s clear that having all that torque from rest has serious performance implications. The A3 e-tron gives excellent economy figures and packs a hot hatch-bothering 201bhp.

It looks like Renault agrees with me. Speaking to Top Gear, an insider said “I could see it happening in the future. Look at Formula E - all the vehicles are from Renaultsport. So I can certainly see RS hybrids in the future. Why not?”

And it makes sense. Renault will want to see its investment in Formula E bear fruit, and what better way to bring hybrid performance credentials to the masses than with a ballistic new part-leccy Clio or Megane RS? That being said, it could be a generation or two away. Purists have just about come to terms with the fact that the latest Clio RS has a turbocharged engine and no manual, so plugging an electric motor inside might see some fans go into a meltdown.

The other point to be made here, is that front-wheel drive hot hatches are reaching a tipping point. As we found out with the Megane RS 275 Trophy recently, manufacturers have made incredible front differentials that make torque steer and understeer almost non-existent, but with a 300bhp output the next logical step for these cars, it’s surely got to be time to think about all-wheel drive.

The Volkswagen Golf R already makes use of AWD to put its 2.0-litre TFSI’s 296bhp down, so it’s no stretch to see other manufacturers going down this path, but using hybrid power to get the job done. Just think: an internal combustion engine feeding one axle, with an electric motor helping out the other. Hot hatch technology could be about to enter a whole new league.