Renault Clio
Nicole and Papa may no longer be around, but the Clio they famously advertised is still doing the business for Renault. However, times are getting tough for the French supermini.
Bigger and more refined than its predecessor, the new Clio replaces the oldest car in Renault's line-up. With its sharp looks, broad choice of engines and the brand's good reputation for safety standards, the Clio is set to be a strong proposition when it goes on sale in autumn. Performance fans will have to wait for hot Renaultsport versions, but there won't be a mid-engined V6 variant.
Nicole and Papa may no longer be around, but the Clio they famously advertised is still doing the business for Renault. However, times are getting tough for the French supermini.
New arrivals from Ford and Honda and the refinement of old-stagers such as Vauxhall's Corsa have put the current model under greater pressure than ever. Even the world's biggest Renault fans would have to admit its replacement is overdue.
So just how good will the new car be? To see if the Clio is up to the task, Auto Express took an exclusive trip to the Arctic Circle in Finland. We went for a ride with the manufacturer's engineers as they put two of the earliest production models through their paces with some winter testing.
All Clio badges and Renault logos were taped over to 'put off' any spy photographers in the area. Even so, there was enough metal on show to reveal the new car is clearly a Clio, despite being 174mm longer than the outgoing model. The M�gane-style rear end has been toned down for the super-mini, but the resemblance to the Modus mini-MPV, with which it shares its platform and engine line-up, is apparent.
In the metal, the newcomer looks like a cross between a Peugeot 206 and a Nissan Micra. However, its closeness to the latter, particularly the high-mounted headlights, should come as no surprise because this Clio shares much of the Japanese car's technology.
The swept-back headlamps and sharp lines are best suited to the smart three-door, expected to be the most popular bodystyle among UK buyers.
However, improvements over the outgoing range are most obvious inside the Clio, where the instruments and some of the switchgear have been borrowed from the M�gane. The layout is uncluttered, and a remote radio display panel is mounted high on the dash. Volkswagen-style soft-touch plastics are everywhere, giving the cabin a grown-up feeling absent in the existing model. And, due to the longer wheelbase, there is more space for occupants in the back, while split/ fold rear seats boost practicality.
On the move, the new Clio is a noticeable improvement over the current version, an example of which had been brought along for comparison. Even with four passengers and their luggage on board, performance from the 1.4-litre 16v petrol engine is strong, and the supermini is much quieter than its predecessor. We also rode in the hi-tech Euro IV-compliant 1.5dCi diesel, which will be available with 70, 85 and 105bhp outputs. This trio supplements a four-strong petrol line-up. Entry-level power is available from a 75bhp 1.2-litre unit, which joins the 100bhp 1.4 seen here. A 110bhp 1.6 is also available, while a 140bhp 2.0 unit will join the range next spring.
In development terms, the new Clio is a landmark car for the firm as the first examples only hit the test tracks last July, meaning development was quicker than ever. We are looking forward to trying it on UK roads to see if all the miles put in have made it good enough to beat its rivals - but the early signs are pretty encouraging...
