Renault R.S. 01 says hello before debut in Moscow

Fri, 01 Aug 2014

What does the "RS" in the Renault Clio RS and Megane RS mean? Well, unlike Audi and Porsche, it doesn't stand for Renn Sport. No, it's actually a signifier that said hot hatch has been breathed upon by Renault Sport, the French manufacturer's answer to Volkswagen's R models, Ford's ST hatches and Opel/Vauxhalls's OPC and VXR lines. Its production of forbidden fruit aside, Renault Sport has another project on the burner – the RS 01.

Formerly known as the Renault Sport Trophy, the RS 01 is a 500-horsepower racer that's underpinned by a Dallara carbon-monocoque chassis. Its power is sent to a dedicated set of Michelin slicks through a Sadev seven-speed sequential trans, while the curb weight hovers around 2,500 pounds. A road car, this is not.

And now, we have our very first look at it. As teaser videos go, this 30-second spot from Renault is particularly juicy, giving us an excellent look at the new RS 01 and it's almost prototype-like shape.

Scroll down for the full video and a very short press release, and then keep your eyes on this space, as Renault will officially unveil the RS 01 on August 27 at the Moscow Motor Show.

D-30: Renault Sport R.S. 01 takes off the wraps

Just over a month ago, we revealed the body lines of our future sports car.

Today, we can reveal its name: Renault Sport R.S. 01.

Paddocks, engine oil and burned rubber... Discover the first pictures of Renault Sport R.S. 01, caught unawares in its natural environment.

The next important date is August 27 at the Moscow Motor Show, when we will tell you all about this spectacular sports car, which is set to become the next star in the World Series by Renault.

By Brandon Turkus