Motoring Article

New Renault Clio

by Lincs RevCounter on
New Renault Clio - Lincolnshire Magazine - LincsMag.com

Completely redesigned inside and out, the All-New Clio is more spacious and refined than ever, plus it introduces cutting edge driving assistance and infotainment systems to the supermini class. The All-New Clio has also been awarded a five-star EuroNCAP rating.

Following Renault's simple EasyLife model strategy, the All-New Clio is available in popular Play and Iconic trim levels, as well as new S Edition and R.S. Line versions. All models are extremely well equipped and packed with premium features, yet with prices starting at £14,295 the All-New Clio remains as affordable as ever.

Interior Revolution

At the heart of the All-New Renault Clio is a totally new interior that sets new standards for quality, technology and practicality. One of the highlights is the option of new, larger 9.3-inch EASY LINK infotainment screen and a 10-inch TFT instrument cluster - features normally reserved for larger and more expensive cars. From the outset the designers wanted to give the All-New Clio a true premium feel, with soft touch plastics, satin finish metal trim and new, more enveloping seats all helping push the car upmarket. And with careful attention paid to ergonomics, the All-New Clio is the most comfortable and refined version yet.

The 'Smart Cockpit' set-up, is made up of a 9.3-inch multimedia screen, standard on S Edition and R.S. Line and optional on the Iconic, plus a 10-inch TFT instrument cluster. The former features a portrait layout and is angled towards the driver, improving screen visibility and usability on the move. Included in the set-up is Renault's EASY LINK connected system that bundles together all the multimedia, navigation, infotainment and MULTI-SENSE functions. The 10-inch TFT instruments are available as an option on R.S. Line and are fully configurable, allowing the driver to customise the display to include information sat-nav instructions directly in front of the driver.

Not only is the All-New Clio more luxurious than before, it also offers greater customisation with two separate Colour Touch packs that add either red or orange inserts for the dashboard, doors and centre console. On top of this is the availability of ambient lighting, which allows drivers to light the cabin in one of eight different colours. New Renault Clio - Lincolnshire Magazine - LincsMag.com

There's also more space than ever in the All-New Clio, despite being 12mm shorter and 8mm lower than its predecessor. A new front seat design not only delivers more comfort and support, its carefully shaped semi-soft shell back liberates more legroom for those sitting in the rear. Elsewhere, boot capacity has been increased to a best in class 391 litres, plus the cabin itself boasts a further 26 litres of storage. A double height floor simplifies loading, while the rear seats fold down to provide a flat floor. Even the optional premium BOSE audio system has been carefully designed so that its subwoofer speaker does not encroach on boot volume.

Exterior Evolution

More elegant and dynamic from all angles, the All-New Clio is packed with head-turning visual appeal. And while it retains the old Clio's sleek profile, which proved to be such a big hit with owners of the previous car, the new car is more distinctive than ever. At the front, the bonnet features sculpted ribs, while the grille is now bigger and the front bumper more pronounced, with a very expressive central air scoop.

This dynamic look is further enhanced by details such the chrome trimmed window surrounds and the hidden window-mounted rear door handles that help give the sporty look of a three-door model. A further innovation is the adoption of full LED headlamps across the range that are flanked by Renault's C-Shaped daytime running light signature that delivers unrivalled night vision.

Further kerb appeal is added by the addition of several new paint finishes, including Valencia Orange and Celadon Blue. Embodying the model's vitality, the new Valencia Orange tone offers unprecedented depth and radiance thanks to a specific lacquer treatment that is a first in the automotive industry. As with the exterior there's the option of contrasting Colour Touch trim embellishments, with Red, Black and Orange inserts for the front grille, side protection strips, rear bumper and alloy wheels.

Innovation: Safety And Technology

As you'd expect, the All-New Clio leads the way when it comes to the latest driver assistance technologies. Not only is there the 'Smart Cockpit' that allows easier and safer use of infotainment functions on the move, there's also the option of the EasyDrive advanced driving assistance system, which represents the first step towards a self-driving vehicle. Available on the TCe 130 EDC this advanced system combines adaptive cruise control with lane keep assist to maintain a safe distance to the car in front, help keep the car in its lane and take over braking and acceleration in slow moving traffic.

The Renault EASY LINK multimedia platform features on All-New Clio with either 7-inch or 9.3-inch touchscreens, both of them compatible with Android AutoTM and Apple CarPlayTM. Featuring an all-new smartphone-inspired interface that is more user-friendly and functional, allowing users to customise various screens using widgets to directly access their favourite functions. With of 4G connectivity, there's also access to constant round of updates and a wide variety of apps, including Google search functions, TomTom and Coyote.

Safety features include lane departure warning and lane keep assist, the former automatically primed at speeds more than 43mph (70km/h), the latter working between 43mph (70km/h) and 99mph (160km/h). Traffic Sign Recognition with speed alert is also included, as is cruise control with a speed limiter function. Active Emergency braking is also included and is bolstered by the latest cyclist and pedestrian detection functionality.

Thanks to careful design and the strategic use of high-strength steel, the Clio is also one of the safest cars in its class, as highlighted by its five-star EuroNCAP rating. All models get autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, road sign recognition and six airbags.

Powertrains

At launch the All-New Clio is available with three engines: two petrol and one diesel.

Starting with the TCe 100, this new petrol engine comes with power and torque figures of 100PS and 160Nm respectively. Fitted as standard with a five-speed manual gearbox the engine is also available from November with a seven-speed CVT gearbox.

Next up is the TCe 130, which makes its debut in the All-New Clio having already been seen in the Kadjar, Mégane and Scénic. Available exclusively with the seven-speed EDC dual-clutch transmission, the sophisticated combination makes for impressive performance and smoothness.

The Blue dCi 85 diesel gets a six-speed manual transmission and is capable of returning an impressive 78.5mpg. Tuned to be as effortless and efficient on a long run as around town, the 1.5-litre unit develops a muscular 220Nm of torque at 1750rpm.

Available to order from October, will be the entry-level three-cylinder naturally aspirated SCe 75 with power and torque figures of 72PS and 95Nm respectively. Fitted as standard with a five-speed manual gearbox, this combines grown-up performance with small car running costs.

From mid-2020 a new-generation Hybrid powertrain will be available. Developed and patented by Renault engineering it combines a 1.6 litre petrol engine that's mated to an innovative multi-mode gearbox and a pair of electric motors that are powered by a 1.2 kWh lithium ion battery. Combined with the high recharging capacity of the batteries, this makes it possible to drive around town and at low speeds in all-electric mode for around 80 per cent of the time. As a result, there is up to a 40 per cent improvement in fuel consumption compared with a conventional internal-combustion petrol engine during the urban cycle. New Renault Clio - Lincolnshire Magazine - LincsMag.com