Motoring Extra: New Renault Clio mirrors brand’s new design

The new signature lighting – which will reach all Renault vehicles in future – blends into this new style and conveys two of its hallmarks: precision and technicity. New upholstery and new bio-sourced materials make it an up-to-date vehicle and significantly enhance its quality and the experience on board. The esprit Alpine trim is sporty and classy inside and out, and is the version that best encapsulates New Clio’s new era.

New Clio’s front end has been completely redesigned: its sculpted, tauter and groovier contour adds a modern vibe and verve. The enlarged chequered grille adds strength and a sporty feel. The colour scale – darker near the logo, lighter towards the edges – gives it depth and a technical edge. This universe of effects has radically overhauled New Clio’s design, adding allure.

There is a choice of petrol or E-Tech full hybrid powertrain. The new Clio comes with the ever-popular TCe 90 petrol engine, coupled with a smooth-shifting 6-speed manual gearbox, or, alternatively, for the ultimate in efficiency, the 145 hp E-Tech full hybrid is at the cutting edge of hybrid technology.

It puts the pleasure of electric driving in cities within everyone’s reach and at the same time lowers fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

An eco-driving assistant for all the powertrain options also advises the driver on the best ways to save fuel and thus reduce exhaust CO2 emissions.

This E-Tech full hybrid technology is packed with more than 150 patents as well as expertise that Renault has amassed on Formula 1 tracks – especially energy recovery and regeneration. It makes New Clio more dynamic and at the same time more efficient.

The IC engine’s transmission has four gear ratios and the main electric motor has two. The E-Tech full hybrid powertrain can combine input for the IC engine and electric motor in up to 14 different ways to optimise energy efficiency.

The car is invariably powered by the electric motor when it starts, and can use the electric motor up to 80% of the time in cities – cutting consumption by up to 40% compared to a conventional petrol engine. New Clio E-Tech full hybrid’s battery capacity in urban areas is the highest in the hybrid city car segment. Thanks to its efficient powertrain, CO2 emissions are limited, starting at 93 g/km, which is outstanding in the category. That is in addition to the silence you enjoy in electric cars and the fact that you don’t have to stop to charge the battery.

The techno and esprit Alpine trims come with an airfoil - directly inspired by the world of motorsport - beneath the grille. The sculpted shapes and taut grooves enhance and invigorate the car’s face. The blade is the same colour as the body in the techno trim, and matte shadow grey in the esprit Alpine version.

New Clio is the first vehicle in Renault’s New Wave to feature the new signature lighting at the front. It is inspired by the logo: the LED daytime running lights on either side. For instance, each form one half of an upright rhombus, underscoring the ‘face’s’ pulsating, sparkling eyes.

The slender full-LED headlamps, included in all the trims, point to precision and technical savviness, and sharpen the car’s look.

The experience inside New Clio is welcoming and cosy. Spaciousness, top quality and ergonomics are still the vehicle’s key strengths.

Electric vehicle sales power ahead

Electric vehicle sales are powering ahead with 1,870 new electric vehicles registered in April and 11,164 registered so far this year, a 49% increase on the same period 2022.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) said new car registrations for April were up 14% (8,941) when compared to April 2022 (7,857). Registrations year to date are up 16.0% (67,018) on the same period last year (57,762).

Electric Vehicle and Plug-in Hybrids and Hybrids continue to increase their market share, with a combined market share now of 42%. Petrol continues to remain dominant 32.85%, with Diesel accounting for 22.34%, Hybrid 17.44%, Electric 16.66% and Plug-in Electric Hybrid 7.90%.

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General said the momentum behind new EV sales is clearly there, ‘but we need to continue to incentivise EV purchases if we want to continue the growth in the new EV market share, but also to create an active used EV market.’

Light Commercial vehicles (LCV) are up 33.3% (2,153) compared to April last year (1,615) and year to date are up 25.3% (13,734).