Renault Clio 2009 News

The  all-new Clio coming from France will sit at the bottom of a revitalised range that's already delivering record results in showrooms. The new Clio reflects the latest design direction from Paris, as well as a renewed commitment to a light-class car where it will go head-to-head with everything from the Toyota Yaris and Mazda2 to the Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia with a likely starting price below $20,000. The Clio was withdrawn from Australian showrooms back in 2007 after a period of dismal sales with a car which was under-done and over-priced for Australia, eventually failing to even win worthwhile support as a cut-priced rental car. "It's a no-brainer that we need the new Clio. It's definitely coming," says Emily Ambrosy of Renault Australia. "It's going to get people into the brand, and it's the latest design statement for Renault. We're going to have a full range of models up to the RenaultSport Clio. "At the moment we only have the RenaultSport version of the Clio. It's doing well, but it's getting close to the end of its life. She says the Clio will have a very different role under the new regime at Renault Australia. "A lot has changed. Renault Australia has changed, and we're on a trajectory of growth. We had our biggest month ever in June, which was 540 cars. And we see Clio as being fundamental to continuing that growth in the future."  The new Clio has just been revealed in France and will be seen publicly for the first time at the Paris motor show in September. It will be nearly a year before the first cars reach Australia, with the hotrod RenaultSport model unlikely until the final months of 2013. "It will be here around the middle of next year. The regular models will come first, and then the RenaultSport cars about six months later. That's the same staggered timing as Europe, with RenaultSport Clio coming later." The Clio has been part of the Renault bedrock since 1990, with more than 11.5 million sold in more than 115 countries, but the newcomer is more stylish than in the past. "New Clio is set to make a real mark. In addition to an unprecedented package of innovations, it's design marks a major shift from that of previous models," says Carlos Tavares, chief operating office of Renault. The design of the car is much edgier, and is the first work of new styling chief Laurens van den Acker - formerly of Audi, Ford and Mazda - to his the road. Renault describes the shape of the Clio as 'voluptuous curves' and promises a cabin that is 'safe, protective and refreshing'. The technology package - not confirmed yet for Australia - includes an 18-centimetre touch screen and access to what Renault claims as the world's first automotive App store for its R-Link system. There is even a potential choice of six engine noises that can be piped into the cabin through the sound system. Mechanically, the headliner is a three-cylinder 900cc turbocharged petrol engine with the promise of 99 grams/kilometre of CO2 emissions. Renault Australia is already committed to the baby engine and the full package of models and equipment, but pricing is a long way from settled. "We are going to have the full thing. We'll have entry-level cars, petrol and diesel, manual and automatic. We see it as being one of our biggest models," says Ambrosy. "We haven't got the pricing yet. But it's a heavily competitive segment and we need to be sharply priced."  

 Apart from European hot-hatches such as the Renault Cleo Sport and Peugeot 206 GTi seldom have we seen any manufactures brave enough to bring 3 door hatch variants into our market.  Sure you can get an entry level 3 door Yaris but what about a nice 3 door Corolla Sportivo, um… sorry they don’t come in 3 door in Australia.This pattern seems to have started in the late 80s with the introduction in droves of mass produced front wheel drive hatch backs.  Remember the Pulsar SSS?  Yep that came in 3 door hatch in Japan.  How about the Corolla GTi, or Mazda 323?  Yep 3 door again overseas.At one stage in the early 90s even the iconic Golf GTi was only available in 5 door in this country.  For years Australia has been denied many of the accessories and engine options that are prevalent in Europe, the US, and even the rest of Asia, but they are happy to throw in an extra 2 doors for nothing.  There are some companies that have bucked the trend like Honda, but even they gave in to with the “5 door hatch only” Civic model a few years back.  And now it looks like the Europeans have caught on to this trend.  We are missing out on the 2 door BMW 1 series hatch it seems…Though through the gloom comes the news that Australia will shortly see the new 2 door VW Polo.  A brief hint of fun in a sea of practicality it seams.I really can’t see any reason why the Australian market seems to be so against the 3 door hatch… especially when it comes to the performance market. 

The Chevrolet Camaro might be built and sold in the USA, but it was designed, developed, tested and approved down under as a spin-off from the VE Commodore. It is named this week among the 31 finalists for the World COTY (see gallery above for full shortlist), and will be judged by a global panel of 60 motoring journalists before the winner is named at the New York Auto Show in April next year.The finalists carry badges from Audi to Toyota and are as diverse as the latest green-power Honda Insight and Toyota Prius to the super luxury Porsche Panamera."The list came from the manufacturers, who sent us their eligible cars for the year. There may be one or two more yet, because a couple of companies might have some extra models before the end of the year," says WCOTY co-chairman, Peter Lyon. "For example, there is the Mercedes SLS Gullwing. We don't know yet when it will go on sale."Apart from the World COTY contest, the same judging panel also decides the World Performance Car of the Year (see gallery), World Green Car of the Year and World Car Design of the year.So far there are 18 potential winners in the performance category, from the Aston Martin V12 Vantage to the Renault Clio 3 Renault Sport. Judging on all fronts now advances to the semi-finals, three cars in each case, which will be named at the Geneva Motor Show at the start of March. Then it is over to the judges to drive, assess and vote."This year we have 60 judges altogether. We've capped at that number, after adding a couple of new judges this year," says Lyon. "Originally we had about 44 judges. But 60 is the basic number of the North American, European and Japanese COTY awards and that seemed like the right number.""We've got judges now for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. We've basically covered 25 or 26 countries, from Australia to Russia and everywhere between."Lyon says the basics of the award have not changed for the sixth judging and he makes no apologies for the list of contenders. "The German and Japanese cars are romping it in again. It's basically a reflection of the quality of car manufacturing today. The Japanese and Germans are making the best cars in the world, full stop," he says."But we think, of all the Car of the Year awards, this is the most natural. There is no pressure on any of the judges. They just vote for the best cars as they see them in their countries." 

The advertisement claims the Renault Clio makes you look good. Then shows that you don’t actually have to buy it if you have a pocketknife.         

Renault Australia marketing manager Craig Smith doesn't expect to see the Clio Renaultsport 200 and Renaultsport 200 Cup until at least early 2010.That's despite the pair of hot hatches opening up battling in the UK last week with June deliveries."When we get the 200 depends on sales of the 197," he says."We have some existing 197s available plus we have 40 of the R27 version which are going to dealers this week."So we'll watch the sales of these and then make a decision about importing the 200."The Renaultsport models are part of the new-look Clio line-up that starts with the three-door Extreme.Well upmarket from the oddly-named base model Extreme, the two Renaultsports get more aggressive styling with F1-style frontal aerodynamics, new alloy wheels and rear diffuser.The chassis also gets a new front suspension design with revised suspension and steering settings.All this is moved by a more powerful engine.Renault claims improved low-down torque, economy and emissions and the best power-to-weight ratio in its class at 124kW per tonne.The 2-litre normally-aspirated engine has 150kW of power — up by 2.2kW compared with the 197 — at 7100rpm. The low-end — below 3000rpm — torque is up by 20 per cent over the 197 thanks to a new cylinder head and fine-tuning of the engine mapping.The first, second and third gear ratios have all been shortened for punchier acceleration.This engine drives through a manual six-speed gearbox (TL4) and claims maximum torque of 215Nm at 5400rpm (compared with 5500rpm for Clio Renaultsport 197).Clio Renaultsport accelerates from standstill to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds.Clio Renaultsport 200's aerodynamics include a new frontal blade, front-wing air-extractors and a rear air diffuser — a development that Renault claims is unique for this segment.The air diffuser works by receiving the air from the flat underbody and then accelerating the air speed as it leaves the vehicle's surface.Combined with the shape of the diffuser it creates a zone of depression under the car to suck the chassis to the ground.Renault says that unlike a rear wing, diffusers generate significant downforce without resisting forward movement."On a track, at 130km/h, lift is reduced by almost 40kg," Renault says.In response to customer demand, the suspension settings for both the standard car and the hard core, Cup set-up have been revised.The standard 200 chassis gets more comfort over its 197 predecessor because of new damper settings that are 15 per cent softer, and the use of hydraulic double-effect dampers.The front roll bar is up to 21mm diameter from 20mm and Renault has chosen specifically-developed Continental Sport Contact 3 tyres at 215/45R17 for more precise steering response.The new alloy wheels are 1kg lighter which also improves steering response.Compared with the standard Clio, the Cup version gets uprated dampers that are 15 per cent stiffer; stiffer springs (uprated 27 per cent at the front and 30 per cent at the rear); a 7mm lower ride height; an improvement in torsional rigidity by 10 per cent; and a higher-ratio steering rack (7.5 per cent quicker).The Clio Renaultsport 200 Cup weighs 1204kg which equates to 124kW per tonne.