After producing some 11.5m units over three generations, for sale in around 115 countries, Renault has announced its fourth-generation Clio completely restyled, with much improved interiors and new engines and technology.
“Sensual, passionate styling” is the fruit of the Renault design renaissance, the automaker gushed, adding that the latest Clio is the first production model “to give full expression to the Renault design renaissance inspired by Laurens van den Acker, senior vice-president, corporate design”.
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“The promise was to take the style and emotion of the brand’s latest concept cars and bring them to production models.”
New available technology includes reversing camera, keyless entry, ‘R-Sound app’, bass reflex system, six-speed EDC dual clutch automatic transmission, and ‘R-Link’, an integrated internet-connected touchscreen tablet.
Engine options include a new three-cylinder petrol unit: the Energy TCe 90 (4.3l/100km fuel consumption and 99g/km of CO2 emissions) and the Energy dCi 90 diesel (3.2l/100km and 83g/km of CO2).
“New Clio is set to make a real mark. In addition to an unprecedented package of innovations, its design marks a major shift from that of previous models,” said Renault COO Carlos Tavares.
Personalisation
It appears from photos Renault’s designers took a very close look at the cabin of the Mini-rivalling Citroen DS3 and borrowed some ideas as well as offering buyers extensive exterior and interior personalisation options.
From launch, Clio buyers will be able to personalise the exterior of their vehicle with a selection of door mirror housings, grille bars, rear panel skirts, lower door protectors and wheel finishes, as well as a choice of roof graphics. To personalise the interior, the menu covers the dashboard, door panels, steering wheel, grab handles, gear lever surround, air vent surrounds, upholstery materials and optional floor mats. Thanks to attractively-priced option packs, buyers are able to choose the look and feel they prefer.
Technology
Renault has always been strong on cabin technology, starting with steering wheel-mounted radio controls in the 1982 11 electronic, navigation (1994 Safrane), keyless entry in the volume market (2001), low-price GPS navigation with a high-resolution screen (Carminat TomTom from EUR490 for the Clio in 2009) and on-board connected navigation (Carminat TomTom Live for the last Clio), and continues to innovate with its new ‘Renault R-Link’.
This new option, the automaker said, “provides a bridge between the car and the connected world outside” with a seven-inch (18cm) touchscreen, intuitive voice commands and, as a market first, a home page that can be personalised by the user for safe and simple access to essential functions, without the driver having to take his or her eyes off the road.
TomTom connected navigation includes Live services and boasts the market’s claimed best real-time traffic information, helping to minimise journey times and fuel consumption.
Among other benefits, a connection with the car’s own electronic systems permits access to an advanced eco-driving function (Driving eco²) which analyses the driver’s behaviour and provides advice to help reduce fuel consumption.
The Renault R-Link store is said to be the automobile world’s first ever application store, and users can view or download a comprehensive and varied range of apps from their car or computer (via ‘My Renault’).
The scope of Renault R-Link’s connected functions will continue to expand thanks to ‘Paris Incubateurs’ (a Paris-based hot-house for young talent) and to an appeal extended to start-ups at the LeWeb’11 show. Over and above the services provided by TomTom Live and the Coyote app, which alerts the driver to dangerous situations (in countries where this feature is available), R-Link users can also check their messages, for example, manage their diary, locate the nearest service station or place to park, or send a Twitter tweet.
One R-Link app – R-Sound Effect – enables the audio experience inside the new Clio to be personalised by immersing the cabin in a specific sound environment. It can simulate six different engine sound profiles, each with a specific signature and synchronised with driving parameters such as speed and acceleration.
The Clio will also be available with the Media nav system which is standard equipment for two of three equipment levels.
This also has a seven-inch (18cm) touchscreen, a radio and a Bluetooth function for the audio streaming of music and hands-free use of a mobile phone. Portable music players can be connected via the fascia-mounted USB port or jack socket. Media nav is available with ‘Nav N Go’ navigation with 2D and 3D (Birdview) displays.
Navteq’s maps can be updated via the USB port from a bespoke internet interface.
All versions of the latest Clio are also available with a sound system integrated into the front doors’ loudspeakers. Known as ‘Bass Reflex’, this delivers the volume and listening enjoyment of a 30-litre home speaker enclosure. Bass frequencies are more powerful and the threshold of saturation and distortion is pushed much higher.
The entire range has as standard Bluetooth-equipped radios for hands-free telephone operation and audio streaming from portable music players. All radios incorporate USB and jack sockets.
Engines
The redesigned Clio is the first Renault model to get the new, 0.9-litre, three-cylinder petrol turbocharged Energy TCe 90 engine, the first three-pot Renault has made. It comes comes with stop&start and is claimed to perform like a normally-aspirated 1.4-litre engine with peak power of 90hp at 5,000rpm, an ultralow-inertia turbo for satisfying response from low engine speeds: 135Nm at 2,500rpm (90 percent of peak torque available from 1,650rpm). It is an economy-optimised choice with taller gear ratios and fuel consumption of 4.3 litres/100km, equivalent to CO2 emissions of 99g/km. It uses 21% less fuel and emits less CO2 than the TCe 100 engine it replaces.
The Energy dCi 90 is a new 90hp/4,000rpm version of the familiar Renault 1.5 dCi diesel, equipped with stop&start with 220Nm of torque available from 1,750rpm, an increase of 20Nm over the current dCi 90. An economy-optimised version with taller gear ratios qualifies for the Renault eco2 badge with fuel consumption of just 3.2 litres/100km, equivalent to CO2 emissions of 83g/km.
A new TCe 120 is paired with a six-speed efficient dual clutch (EDC) automatic transmission, a Renault first in the B segment. This four-cylinder, 1.2-litre engine is claimed to have the performance of a normally-aspirated 1.6 engine with direct fuel injection and turbocharging for peak power of 120hp and 190Nm of torque from 1,750rpm.
This engine is currently being homologated and will become available in the first half of 2013. It will be among the most powerful, yet most economical engines in its class, the automaker said.
Drivers will be encouraged to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by as much as 10% by an eco mode that modifies the car’s performance parameters at the push of a button, a driving style monitor (green, yellow or orange), a gear shift indicator and the driving eco² app available through R-Link which allows driving style to be analysed.
Launch and build
The new Clio will be shown to global media in September ahead of a public debut at the Paris motor show. It will be made in Flins (France) and Bursa (Turkey) on a new version of the Renault-Nissan alliance’s B-segment platform optimised for comfort, manoeuvrability and low noise levels.
