Renault unveils the new Clio

The Clio is a flagship product for Renault: five generations have been developed and 17 million units have been sold since its launch in 1990. The sixth generation, unveiled Monday evening at a world premiere on the sidelines of the annual IAA mobility show in Munich, represents a dramatic break from its predecessors.

The redesigned hatchback does draw “on the DNA of its five previous generations,” said Fabrice Cambolive, Renault Group’s chief growth officer and CEO of the Renault brand. “But this new Clio takes everything further with bold design, advanced technology, and next-level connectivity.”

Design: between concavity and convexity

With its “sharp but sensual” lines, the sixth generation of the Clio “fully embodies” the brand’s new wave style, said Laurens van den Acker, chief design officer at Renault Group, highlighting the main visual features during the launch event. The hatchback measures 4.116 metres – six and a half centimetres longer than the 4.05 metres of the fifth generation – and has a long hood that pushes its front grill forward. The Renault logo is featured in a flat, matte black that blends in with the grill, contributing to the sleek feel. And if you look a bit closer, there’s also a series of miniature Renault logos running across the front. A gradually upwards sloping windshield gives the car a sporty, modern character. “The body is almost liquid,” van den Acker explained. “Its fluid curves, alternating hollow and convex surfaces come to life thanks to precise tension lines that capture light.”

Indeed, the play between concavity and convexity is evident along the hood and lower part of the doors, as well as on the rear of the hatchback. “At the very beginning, when the designers presented me with the first options, I was [focused] on the lighting,” product performance leader Emmanuel de Jesus Pequeno said, speaking to ACL about his favourite part of the design while at the Renault stand in downtown Munich, where the Clio will be on display at Odeonsplatz until 14 September, along with the electric Emblème and R5 Turbo 3E demo cars. Indeed, the car’s front running lights resemble the open claws of a crab, while the back lights are separated into four separate, elongated hexagonal elements (two on the left, two on the right). But now, the product performance leader’s favourite aspect of the newly presented car is the shape of the rear face. “This negative part is really new for Renault,” he said, pointing to the horizontal line that protrudes slightly, then dips inward, traversing the rear face just above the logo. “I really like the curve that you can find there. Personally, that’s my favourite.”

The passenger compartment is spacious, the boot is roomy, and the seats are comfy and have a premium feel (even the dreaded middle seat is surprisingly comfortable, with the backrest curving slightly outwards and providing lumbar support). The steering wheel is smaller (though there are multiple levers on the right-hand side), while the driver and front passenger’s seats feature significantly raised bolsters that cradle the body, allowing one to sit in a relaxed manner.

Looking further at the interior, the dashboard is “wrapped in gradient, technical fabric,” explained chief design officer van den Acker during the reveal, while “ambient lighting flows seamlessly into the doors.” The fabric extends onto the front doors, stretching halfway across before ending with a vertical strip of lighting.

Full hybrid E-tech 160hp powertrain

One of Renault’s key strengths is its agility, said Renault Group CEO François Provost, who was appointed to head the French carmaker in July. The company’s business model stands on two pillars, he noted: electric vehicles on the one hand; and ice (internal combustion engine) and hybrid vehicles on the other hand. Clio VI features a new full hybrid E-tech 160hp powertrain, compared to the previous generation’s hybrid E-tech 145hp powertrain. “The best of both worlds,” stated Provost.

The car emits 89g of CO2/km and has a fuel consumption of 3.9 litres/100km and a range of up to 1000km. “It is designed to meet the needs of both high-mileage fleet drivers and everyday customers,” added Cambolive.

Connectivity and integrated technology

“Connectivity is clearly one of the assets of Clio VI,” said Delphine de Andria, B-segment product director of the Renault brand. The OpenR Link multimedia system, with Google built in, offers features like Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play (along with all the associated apps). In addition, the new Clio also “features up to 29 driving aids coming from higher-end segments,” she stated. These include adaptive cruise control and an electric parking brake (standard), as well as automatic rear emergency braking or occupant safe exit systems.

“Our industry is going through a challenging period. We are facing technological, regulatory, and geopolitical disruptions. And we are confronted with unprecedented, fierce competition – particularly from China. Things are changing – and they are changing fast,” said Provost. “We do not have the luxury of a status quo. We must constantly seek to be more efficient, more agile, and strive for excellence.” The newly presented Clio – whose price has not yet been announced, but will likely go for around €20,000 – seems poised to help the company do so.