Renault Design Renaissance

The new Clio is the first model to embody Renault's "Design Renaissance" and is the work of Laurens van den Acker, who has been in charge of Renault's design since 2009. Previously, he was known forBugattihis interior design for the "EB110," and at Ford and Mazda, he introduced concept cars with flowing designs such as "NAGARE" and "HAKAZE."



The new Clio also features a wider and lower body compared to its predecessor, and a styling that uses techniques such as concealing the rear door handles in the C-pillar to give it a coupe-like appearance, even though it is a five-door model, resulting in a sleek design.



The engine is environmentally enhanced. The gasoline-powered "Renault Energy TCe90" is a 0.9-liter water-cooled inline three-cylinder turbo, producing a maximum output of 90 ps at 5,250 rpm and 135 Nm of torque, with 90% of that available from 1,650 rpm. It features variable valve timing, an idle-stop function ("Start & Stop"), and a regenerative braking system, achieving a fuel economy of 4.3 L/100 km (approximately 23.3 km/L) and CO2 emissions of 99 g/km under NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) standards.



The diesel engine is the "Renault Energy dCi 90." It produces a maximum output of 90 ps at 4,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 220 Nm from 1,750 rpm, while achieving a fuel economy of just 3.2 L/100 km (approximately 31.3 km/L) and CO2 emissions of 83 g/km. Additionally, an entry-level "dCi 75" is available, which omits the "Start & Stop" system and produces a maximum output of 75 ps and a maximum torque of 180 Nm.



In the spring of next year, a gasoline engine model, the "Renault TCe 120 EDC," will be added. This model features a 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) transmission. Equipped with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing (VVT), it delivers a maximum output of 120 ps at 4,900 rpm and a maximum torque of 190 Nm at 2,000-4,000 rpm. This model is said to replace the previous 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine with an automatic transmission.



The top model, the "R.S.200 EDC," is powered by a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder turbo, the "1.6T Renault Sport 200," which boasts a maximum output of 200 ps at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 240 Nm at 1,750-5,600 rpm. This is also paired with an EDC (dual-clutch) transmission.

The Renault Sport Pedigree

One of the models additionally announced at the Paris Motor Show was the "Clio R.S. 200 EDC." As the name suggests, it is a model that has been tuned by Renault's sports division, "Renault Sport." It features a 6-speed EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) transmission, developed by Renault Sport, and for the first time in a Renault, paddle shifters are incorporated on the steering column.



The engine is a 1.6-liter turbo with a maximum output of 200 ps at 6,000 rpm. The maximum torque is 240 Nm at 1,750-5,600 rpm, an increase of 25 Nm compared to the previous generation.



The "R.S. Drive" mode selection button offers three modes: "Normal," "Sport," and "Race," which adjust the settings for the engine, gearbox, stability control (ESC), and steering. In the sportiest "Race" mode, gear changes take a mere 150 milliseconds (0.15 seconds).



In line with the tradition of Renault Sport models, two chassis types, "Sport" and "Cup," are available, similar to theMegane RSandTwingo RSmodels. The "Sport" chassis offers a balance between sporty driving and everyday comfort, while the "Cup" chassis is a harder specification with a 15% increase in rigidity, intended for circuit driving.

A More Elegant Wagon Style