Subtle tweaks for Renault’s Clio

RENAULT has revealed some light visual tweaks for its Clio city car as part of a subtle mid-life makeover, but the updates are not expected to hit Australian-spec versions until next year.

The blink-and-you’ll-miss-them changes include full LED headlights with a C-shape (for Clio) daytime running light signature on some variants, while the front grille has been redesigned.

At the rear, the Clio receives a redesigned skirt for “additional robustness”, according to Renault, while new wheel designs are on offer, as are four new colours – Intense Red, Titanium Grey, Pearlescent White and Iron Blue.

The French car-maker says it has used higher quality finishing materials on the refreshed Clio that are usually reserved for more upscale models.

The upholstery on all grades is new and Renault says it has paid attention to the look and feel of the finish of the plastics in the cabin, while the chrome trim now has a matte finish and colours are “more refined”.

Very few changes have been made under the bonnet, although in Europe the Clio will now be offered with a new 1.5-litre diesel engine matched with a six-speed manual gearbox, but given the low take-up of diesels in the light-car segment in Australia, it is unlikely to make it here.

The 88kW/190Nm 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine will now be offered with a six-speed manual in Europe, but it is unclear if this will make its way to Australian-spec Clios.

“In time, we will introduce updates to the Clio range however it won’t be this year,” a Renault Australia spokesperson told GoAuto.

Three multimedia systems are available on Clio overseas – Media Nav Evolution, Renault R­Link Evolution and the new R&Go system – and Renault says the Clio is the first B-segment (light) car to be offered with a Bose sound system.

Front parking sensors, a reversing camera and an automatic parking system are offered on some variants.

A top-end Initiale Paris variant is also now available in Europe, bringing exclusive materials, features and colours.

It includes a full-grain Nappa padded leather steering wheel and gear shift lever, black or black and white leather seats, and unique door panel and dashboard trim.

As standard, the Clio Initiale Paris features a Bose premium audio system, LED Pure Vision headlights and C­shaped LED daytime running lights, the R­Link Evolution multimedia system with connected services, reversing camera and Easy Park Assist.

Two petrol and two diesel powerplants are available on the Initiale Paris variant with either manual or EDC dual­clutch automatic transmission.

Renault launched the fourth-generation Clio in late-2013 and quickly became the car-maker’s best seller, clocking up 2611 sales in 2014 and 2767 in 2015.

It has found 749 homes to the end of May this year, representing a 31.1 per cent dip over the same period last year, and while it is still leading Renault’s tally for the year, the Trafic light-commercial van is snapping at its heels with 720 sales, as is the big Master van with 694 units shifted.