Renault Clio News

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.         

A couple volleys back and forth about whether France or Britain is superior.                  

A couple volleys back and forth about whether France or Britain is superior.                      

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.

Renault MD Rudi Koenig unveiled the new Laguna Estate as the cornerstone and product flagship of the French brand, with its emphasis on safety.

There is a lot hinging on Renault's newest arrival.

The wide-eyed French wonder has a hybrid HDi drivetrain from which Citroen claims fuel consumption of just 3.4L/100km.As well as saving fuel, the concept aims to cutback on resources used in its construction. The cabin is made up of just over 200 parts, which Citroen says is about half the usual number. Peugeot's sleek 308RCZ concept gives a big nod towards a future body style for the 308 family.The ultra-light 2+2 coupe uses aluminium, polycarbonate windows and carbon-fibre body parts and is powered by a 160kW 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbo jointly developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen and BMW.Mitsubishi will unveil its Concept-cX compact SUV at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Concept-cX uses interior trim materials made from bamboo and other plant-based resins.The concept is powered by a new high-output, high-efficiency 1.8-litre diesel engine, featuring a variable geometry turbocharger for optimum boost control and a diesel oxidation catalyst with diesel particulate filter, and Mitsubishi's new twin-clutch sport-shift transmission which will be a key element in the Lancer Evo X.GM will show environmentally-conscious concepts at Frankfurt, including the HydroGen4 fuel-cell car, the Volt all-electric car and further adaptions of its EcoFlex technology.The HydroGen4 produces an electrical output of up to 93kW backed by a 73kW electric motor.GM claims it can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 12 seconds and has a top speed of about 160km/h. It will also show off its E-Flex strategy, which combines various fuel-efficient propulsion systems in the same vehicle shape and design to suit local demands, in an Opel Corsa small car.Of the production cars being launched at the show, the Mini Clubman wagon is likely to rate highly. The five-door model has double rear doors and a suicide door on the driver's side. The suicide door, which is rear-hinged, is designed to allow passengers easier access to the back.Renault will also show a mini wagon with its Clio Sport Tourer, due to go on sale in Europe early next year.Halfway between concept and reality is the 2008 World Rally Car concept from Subaru.It is both a pointer to what the next WRC will be like and an insight into how the new WRX STI, which will go on sale in Australia early next year, will look. 

The world's biggest motor show is weeks away, yet the car companies are already scrambling over each other to release clues about their exhibits.Among the highlights of the 62nd Frankfurt International Motor Show are cars made out of bamboo, a boxer diesel engine and yet more “urban crossover SUVs.”Mitsubishi Motors Corporation will unveil its Concept-cX compact SUV at the show.Concept-cX uses interior trim materials made from bamboo and other plant-based resins.The concept is powered by a new high-output, high-efficiency 1.8 litre diesel engine, featuring a variable geometry turbocharger for optimum boost control and a diesel oxidation catalyst with diesel particulate filter, and Mitsubishi's new twin clutch sport shift transmission.Dodge will also launch a crossover wagon, called Crew, which hits Australia late next year.The seven-seater is based on the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring sedan platform but with all-wheel drive and powered by 2.4-litre petrol and 2-litre turbo-diesel engines.The Crew looks like a shrunken Chrysler Voyager people mover, but with a longer nose and higher ground clearance.It will be built at Chrysler's Toluca plant in Mexico with production due to start in December.Subaru will use the show for its biggest new model blitz yet.Leading the line-up will be the new Impreza five-door hatchback in its 1.5 and 2 litre naturally aspirated formats, which arrives in Australia the same month.Other Subarus on show include an Impreza-based World Rally Car Concept, facelifted Tribeca luxury SUV with more efficient 3.6-litre boxer engine and five-speed auto, new Justy one-litre supermini and the world's first horizontally opposed boxer turbo-diesel engine, due to be progressively installed in models from early in 2008.Mazda will debut its Mazda6, the second Mazda new generation product to evolve to the next stage following the new Mazda2.Although Australia is yet to see the Kia cee'd five-door, the Korean company will debut its new sporty three-door Pro-cee'd, the third model in the family of cars designed for Europe and made in Slovakia.Only the bonnet and the front wing panels are carried over from the five-door model.Volkswagen will revive the 'people's car' with a concept Beetle.It is called the City Expert because The Beetle name has been taken by the more expensive new-generation car.The City Expert goes back to Beetle roots with a rear-mounted, flat-four boxer engine and a cheap price tag.VW will also reveal six new models with BlueMotion diesel technology, including the new Golf BlueMotion claiming economy of 4.5 litres/100km down 0.6-litres from the previous model, and CO2 emissions down 16g/km to 119g/km.Range on a 55-litre tank is now more than 1200km.Peugeot's 308RCZ concept will give a big hint towards a future body style for the 308 family.The ultra-light 2+2 coupe uses aluminium, polycarbonate windows and carbon fibre body parts and is powered by a 160kW 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbo jointly developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen and BMW.Renault will show a wagon version of its Clio mini.The Clio Sport Tourer will go on sale in Europe early next year.Mini is also on the bandwagon with the return of the Clubman van.The five-door model has double rear doors and a suicide door on the driver's side.The suicide door, which opens the opposite way, is designed to allow passengers easier access to the back.It would make more sense on the other side, but clearly the former British car now owned by BMW is designed for left-hand-drive markets with the blinkers also on the left.Ford will show its Kuga crossover all-wheel-drive probably powered by a range of petrol and turbodiesel engines, including the 2-litre 100kW/320Nm TDCi that has just appeared in the Focus.The Kuga is based on the Iosis X concept unveiled at last year's Paris Motor Show.In a surprise move, Suzuki will show it's expanding from small cars and SUVs into the family market.Their Kizashi family car looks mean with a massive black grille, sloping lamp clusters and low-level fog lamps.Also looking mean is Saab's 9-3 Turbo X which will rekindle the spirit of the 1980s Saab 900 Black Turbo.It will feature Cross-Wheel Drive allowing torque to be split to either side of the rear axle via an electronically limited slip differential, based on information from the stability and traction control systems.However, the show-stealer is likely to be seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher when he unveils the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, a lighter and faster development of the existing 430 coupe and convertible.Power is up to 380kW, weight is down 100kg and the F1 transmission has new software that cuts shift times to 60 milliseconds. 

A Megane diesel sedan and the red-hot RenaultSport Megane R26 lead the way, and will be joined by a half-dozen other newcomers within a year.Diesel will be a big deal for Renault, but it is also looking closely at a return for the baby Clio and is banking on the success of a mid-sized four-wheel-drive.“Next year is the start of the Renault product revolution. We'll get our share of the new vehicles,” says Renault Australia managing director Rudi Koenig. “We're looking at in excess of 3000 cars. The plan is between 3000 and 3500, depending very much on how the sedan goes and the uptake of diesel.”Koenig already knows the R26 hot hatch will be a sellout, despite lifting the order from 30 to 80 cars for Australia. He is more concerned about the diesel Megane. He believes the car will be pivotal to the success of the sedan version, which has not polarised people in the same way as the “J.Lo” butt on the hatch.“Diesel is the critical vehicle for us. We hang our hat on the sedan, and the diesel gives us pretty well the lowest-priced diesel in the market,” Koenig says. “We've got to have a car that gives us consistent volume we can build the brand on. And we haven't had that.”But he denies the success or failure of the Megane diesel which will decide the future of Renault in Australia.“It's never make-or-break. Renault is very much committed to this market and we have a lot of product coming in the future. We're hoping for about 40 diesels a month. That would make it about 40 per cent of our Megane sedan volume, and the biggest individual Renault model.”And there is much more to come. Even if Renault Australia has ruled out the baby Twingo for Australia. Koenig says the Clio is looking good, there will be a revitalised flagship, and the production version of the Koleos concept vehicle.“Next year we will get the new Laguna in the second quarter, the Clio 3 RS version also, and we will get the SUV. The production version of the SUV, which is called Koleos as a concept, is going to be launched next month at the Frankfurt Show and we'll have it at the end of next year.“Clio 3 is a great car and we're studying the production situation very closely.” 

Renault believes it can score strongly with the new generation of cars it is producing in the style of Mercedes AMG and BMW M in Europe and Australia's HSV and FPV.Renault sport Technologies is gearing up to more than triple production in coming years, following the success of limited-edition models including the Megane turbo cars which have been a big hit in Australia.It already has go-faster Clio and Megane models and is planning to expand the range with RS models based on other cars in the Renault family, including the baby Twingo and the upcoming four-wheel drive known at present as Koleos.The overseas sales chief of Renault sport, Jean Calcat, has just visited Australia and can see strong potential for his company's cars.“One of the objectives of the Renault sport business unit is, within five years, we want to move from 15,000 units to 50,000. That is a three-fold increase, which is by no means easy,” Calcat says.“Renault sport is a brand, but it is practically unknown. The idea is to improve the brand the way Mercedes has with AMG.“In Australia we are only marketing the Megane, so I personally do have a lot of hope in this country and this country's customers.”One of the first opportunities is with the compact Clio, which was dropped by Renault Australia but is being considered for a comeback in 2008.A Renault sport model might make the difference.“Right now we are studying with Renault Australia a Clio RS,” Calcat says. “We can sell this car with a bigger profit than the regular range.“An enthusiast will pay for his toys and at the same time there is less competition.“We have named the special edition Clio the R27, following the Megane R26 with a link to the Renault team in Formula One. It is a car which is not yet in the Australian market.“I understand it may come in the future. I am pushing a lot.“The management of Renault Australia is quite excited about the project. But they want first to ensure the successful launch of the R26.”Beyond the Megane and Clio, Calcat says there are significant expansion plans including a full range of Renault sport GT cars to sit below the existing RS models.“One of the things we want to do is position the RS as the exclusive cars they are today, and then launch a GT label. “For us, it will be in order to bridge the gap between the exclusive RS and the, should I say it, more mundane models.“The idea is really to develop the sale of RS derivatives. This kind of car helps us boost our awareness and image where there is not a high profit.“The main objective is to develop a range of cars that appeal to enthusiasts and create a link between motorsport success and mainstream cars.”