The Land of Clio

The highlight for Renault at its home show in Paris was the flagship compact car "Clio" (Lutecia in Japan). The booth was lined with Clios in a dazzling array of colorful body options, creating a truly vibrant space.



Furthermore, additional lineup variations were promptly announced. The "Clio Estate" extends the rear overhang by 201mm, bringing the total length to 4,262mm and expanding luggage capacity. With its blacked-out B and C pillars, a tapered rear end, and emphasized shoulders, it exudes a strong presence that rivals the avant-garde form of the hatchback.



And the "Clio RS," which was very popular in Japan with the previous generation, also has a new model. The engine has been changed from the previous generation's 2-liter naturally aspirated to a 1.6-liter turbo producing a maximum output of 200ps. This is paired with a dual-clutch gearbox with paddles called "EDC." The dedicated bodywork is also claimed to improve downforce by 20 percent. As shown in the photos, a 4-door version is also available.



Additionally, the pure EV compact car "ZOE", is finally debuting. Along with the 2-seater microcar "Twizy", which has been a hot topic in Japan recently, they indicated a strong push for their EV strategy going forward.

Mondial de I'Automobile 2012 Salon de Paris
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