Renault Clio

New-look Renault Clio moves further up-spec

October 2001

Renault’s Clio, a direct descendant of the now-legendary Renault 5, has notched up sales of nearly 2 million units since the second-generation was introduced internationally in 1998. In order to maintain the model’s pre-eminence in its class, Renault has undertaken a major upgrade to the Clio II, replacing or extensively modifying 60 percent of its structural and exterior components to lend the car a fresh new appearance and enhance its dynamic character still further.

The comprehensive restyling of the latest Clio lends it a brand new face, strongly reminiscent of the new visual identity first seen in the innovative Renault Vel Satis.  A prominent Renault logo is suspended in a small, diamond-shaped grille, itself located at the centre of a dihedron.  On either side of the logo are three horizontal bars with inset ellipses. The bonnet is distinguished by a central crease, while curved sections now extend over the wings.  The new twin-unit crystal-style headlights also incorporate the indicators, and extend further up and back along the sides of the nose. The deformable front wings are now more sculpted, extending the flow of the bonnet into the line of the front bumper. 

Entry-level cars are fitted with wider tyres on 14-inch wheels, while mid-range models have 15-inch wheels, strengthening the Clio’s dynamic appearance still further.  Both front and rear bumpers are integrated into the bodywork and painted in body colour on all models. 

At the rear, new taillight clusters incorporate a central crystal-style ellipse which incorporates the reversing lights and indicators. The prominent Renault logo is positioned in the centre of the hatch, and doubles as the release mechanism.  The radio antenna has been shortened and moved to the rear of the roof.

The inside has been completely reworked, with brand new aluminium finishes on the dashboards of some models and incorporating a dual binnacle housing the instruments, a new centre console and increased stowage space. The new centre console carries many auxiliary controls so that they fall easily to hand.  A footrest is provided for the driver, and two thumb rests at the back of the steering wheel in sportier versions improve driver comfort.  The front seats are equipped with new controls for adjusting backrest angle and lumbar support.

The entire range benefits from intelligent windscreen wipers front and rear.  Wiper speed is automatically determined by vehicle speed, and blade life is prolonged by alternately parking the wipers on opposing edges of the rubber blade.    

Passive safety levels have also been enhanced.  Apart from the increased rigidity of the bodyshell, the revised Clio also offers adaptive front airbags, safety belts equipped with 400 kg load limiters and pretensioners, and head/chest side airbags. The rear outer seats are now equipped with pretensioners and 600 kg load limiters. An Isofix attachment for child seats is provided, and the front passenger airbag can be disabled. All Clios have ABS as standard, as are Electronic Braking Distribution and Emergency Brake Assist.

 Power assistance for the steering wheel is now electric and variable, and as an innovative feature have an active self-centring function. 

Structural changes include a new front subframe of thicker material and a revised geometry. The attachment of the engine to the body was also revised, with new engine and gearbox mountings benefiting from the use of new material types. 

A new-generation multiplex vehicle wiring system is used in the revised Clio, allowing a number of sophisticated new functions to be performed.  One of these is a combined rain/light sensor (offered on certain models only).  It is a two-part sensor mounted on the windscreen behind the rearview mirror, and it allows the wipers to be activated automatically and their speed controlled according to the amount of water on the windscreen. The driver can override the system manually if desired.  The light sensor component allows dipped headlights to be automatically activated when light levels fall below a predetermined threshold. Information transmitted by both sensors is combined by the microprocessor control unit, allowing the system to interact – as, for instance, when driving in rain at night, in which case the threshold point of the rain sensor will be automatically lowered.

A further advantage of the multiplex wiring system is improved theft protection.  The revised Clio boasts a new-generation immobiliser system with digital locking, which incorporates mutual interrogation between the central cabin microprocessor and the engine management system.  All transmissions are based on a rolling code and are encrypted.

The revised Clio range assumes the Authentique, Expression, Privilege and Dynamique model designations already used in other Renault models, while the Sport nomenclature is retained for the flagship 2.0 16V.

The two entry-level models in the revised Clio range are the 1.2 Authentique and Expression, powered by a brand new 16-valve 1149 cm3 engine that delivers a maximum power output of 55 kW, while 90 percent of its peak torque of 105 Nm is available between 1750 and 5750 revs/min. Combined-cycle fuel consumption is 6,0 l/100 km, top speed is 170 km/h and the 0 -100 km/h acceleration figure is 13 seconds exactly. These models are hardly “entry-level”, though, as they are comprehensively equipped.

 The two mid-range models are the five-door 1.4 16V Expression and Privilege Automatic.  These models offer an unbeatable combination of performance and economy allied to a generous level of standard equipment.

 They are powered by a 1390 cm3 engine that is extremely light and compact and develops 70 kW/127 Nm of torque. A five-speed close-ratio manual gearbox helps the Clio 1.4 16 V Expression to a top speed of 185 km/h, with acceleration to 100 km/h taking 10,5 seconds.  Fuel economy on the combined cycle is 6,7 l/100 km.   The 1,4 Privilege auto has a top speed of 180 km/h and accelerates to 100 km/h in 12,9 seconds.

 The first of the more overtly performance-oriented models are the five-door 1.6 16V Privilege and three-door Dynamique, both having a close-ratio five-speed manual gearbox, a top speed in excess of 190 km/h, and acceleration and handling to match. Power is from Renault’s latest 1.6-litre 16-valve engine dubbed K4M, which develops 79 kW/148 Nm. Top speed for these models is 193 km/h, the 0 – 100 km/h sprint taking 9,6 seconds.

The flagship powerplant, developed by Renault Sport, is the potent 2.0 litre 16V found under the bonnet of the Clio Sport.  Displacing 1998 cm3, it has a revised induction system to increase responsiveness at low- to medium engine speeds.  In addition to a new high volume air filter, the inlet manifold has twin inlet tracts, designed for better acoustic synchronisation and reduced noise levels.  Only one tract opens at low speeds to boost torque, with both opening as revolutions rise to back pressure and helps satisfy the IF05 exhaust emission standard.

Power output is 124 kW/200 Nm of torque, but despite this prodigious output, fuel economy is a creditable 8,1 l/100 km on the combined cycle.

 From the outside, the three-door 2.0 Sport is distinguished by its mesh front grille, large air intake in the lower bumper, and Xenon discharge headlamps with dark surrounds.  The smooth front and rear bumpers, sill finishers and protective mouldings in body colour, together with the 16-inch alloy wheels, lend the car an air of purpose and understated aggression. 

Inside, the sporting theme continues, with a single colour dashboard, black instrument dials with matt alu-look bezels and leather and alcantara upholstery.  The sports front seats have perforated cushions and backrests, and carry embroidered Renault Sport logos.  The leather-trimmed steering wheel and sill plates also carry Renault Sport badging.  Alloy pedals are fitted, while the gearknob, steering wheel insert, door handles and handbrake knob all have a satin chrome finish.  The mouldings on the dashboard and door panels also have an alu-look finish.

For the performance-hungry, Renault has reserved the fire-breathing, mid-engined Renault Sport Clio V6 available locally to special order only. This hottest of hot hatches is produced in limited numbers on behalf of Renault by TWR in Sweden, where it is virtually-hand built in a factory specifically geared towards the production of limited edition, low-volume specialised vehicles. TWR has previously undertaken similar projects for the likes of Jaguar, Aston Martin and Volvo. 

 The Sport V6’s engine is a development of the L7X unit fitted to the Laguna, with its power output boosted by some 15 kW to 168 kW thanks to revisions to the induction and exhaust systems, a higher compression ratio, special pistons and a lighter flywheel.  Peak torque is a thundering 300 Nm at 3750 revs/min, while the red line is set 500 revs higher than the standard engine, at 7100 revs/min.

 Performance of the Renault Sport Clio V6 is impressive, by any standards: Top speed is close to 240 km/h, while acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h takes a mere 6,4 seconds.  The standing kilometre is dispatched in 26,5 seconds. 

Service intervals are 15 000 km and all Clios are covered by Renault’s standard 3-year 100 000 km warranty and 6-year anti-corrosion guarantee