Unveiled unexpectedly at the 1998 Paris Motor Show, the Clio V6 stunned the automotive world. Echoing the spirit of the legendary Renault 5 Turbo, its radical MR layout — replacing the rear seats with a mid-mounted engine inside a compact hatchback — delivered an excitement unlike anything else and instantly captured the imagination of enthusiasts.

In 2003, Renault Sport refined this wild concept into a true road-going sports car with the introduction of the facelifted “Phase 2” model.

While retaining the dramatic wide overfenders that defined the original, the Phase 2 adopted a more refined front-end design. Improvements extended far beyond styling, including revised suspension geometry, optimized springs and dampers, a longer wheelbase, and a shorter-throw transmission. Most importantly, the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter V6 engine saw output rise to 255 hp, transforming the car into something fundamentally different from the earlier model, with greatly improved stability and a more refined sporting character.

This particular example is a 2004 Phase 2 model — one of only 1,309 units produced worldwide.

First registered in Japan in July 2005, the car was originally delivered to its first owner through Nissan Prince, Renault’s authorized dealer network in Japan at the time. Since being acquired by the current owner in 2009, the vehicle has covered only approximately 11,000 km over the course of 17 years.

Particularly noteworthy is the meticulous level of care and maintenance this example has received. In addition to careful indoor storage preserving both the exterior finish and interior condition, all maintenance has been entrusted exclusively to authorized dealers for the past 17 years. Preventative servicing has also been carried out thoroughly, including timing belt replacement — a known weak point of the model — as well as hub assembly bearing replacement.

Although the steering wheel and shift knob have been changed, the original factory components have been carefully preserved and are included, allowing the car to be returned to full original specification at any time.

Further enhancing its collector appeal, the car is accompanied by the rare factory “Lutecia V6” emblem — a uniquely Japanese detail that forms part of the model’s story.

More than twenty years after production ended, encountering a Phase 2 example with such clear provenance and this level of dealer maintenance is exceptionally rare. Preserving the spirit of one of Renault’s boldest and most exciting eras, this is a truly special example for the discerning enthusiast.