Yesterday, we wondered why Renault had chosen to show us all the interior of the new Clio supermini first. Today, we know the answer. Here’s the outside of the new Renault Clio! It’s, erm, well, it’s pretty similar to the old Clio, really.
Nothing wrong with that, says Renault, because the last Clio was the best-selling car in its hotly-fought sector in all of Europe. The likes of the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo aren’t as popular, believe it or not – and its sales went up as the car got older.
So, we’ll concentrate on the looks here, since you’ve already seen the cabin complete with its 9.3-inch touchscreen, digital driver display and VW-style full-width vents.
The new Clio’s 14mm shorter and 30mm lower than before, but that brand-spanking new chassis foundation unlocks more space inside. You can daub its body in ten different colours (but not on one car). All-LED headlights are standard across the range. Cutting aerodynamic friction has also been a priority – Renault’s added wind deflectors to the front wheelarches to limit efficiency-sapping drag.
Based on an all-new platform, the new Clio doesn’t share a single part with the old one, despite looking pretty much the same, only a bit tidier, and featuring C-shaped lights like the Megane. Renault is also making big claims for the ‘firsts’ that’ll be achieved by this Clio. This humble supermini will be the first mainstream Renault to get an ‘E-tech’ hybridised engine as part of a push to offer 12 electrified models by 2022.
Meanwhile, it’ll also become one of 15 Renaults to feature autonomous driving tech – we’re promised the Clio will “be a pioneer in this respect by making the driver assistance systems leading to autonomous driving widely available on a city car”. So, stay tuned for lane-keeping this and emergency-braking that.
Keeping hopes of a hot hatch version alive is the ‘RS Line’ Clio – basically a bodykitted version aiming to fight the Fiesta ST-line and VW Polo R-line. It adds new grilles, bumpers and 17-inch wheels, plus aluminium pedals and carbon-effect trim inside.
