Demand for sporty looking cars that don’t dent the wallet never seems to abate, so it seems logical that Renault should attempt to revive the Clio S nomenclature which proved a popular choice on European markets in the 1990’s. Much like the original S, the new model places greater emphasis on go-faster detailing than outright performance in a bid to impart a more distinctive air to Renault’s supermini.
Based on the existing Expression-spec model, the Renault Clio ‘S’ sits on the fringe of the range’s sporting line up (complimenting the Clio GT and Clio Renault Sport) and will be available with a choice of four engines, two body styles (three- and five-door) and four body colours. The engine line up is set to comprise a 55 kW 1,2-litre 16-valve petrol unit, a 74 kW TCe 100 1,2-litre petrol unit, a 16-valve 1,6-litre petrol unit with 95 kW on tap, and a single diesel model – a 1,5 dCi developing 63 kW. The four exterior colours will be: Glacier White, Vif Red, Extrême Blue and Pearlescent Black.
The exterior features include 16-inch white “Canasta” rims, a widened front bumper with integrated foglamps and white or red trim inserts (depending on body colour), Renault Clio S stripe decals for both the roof and flanks, red or white rear lip spoiler and exterior mirror trim (again, dependent on body colour) and extra-tinted rear glass.
Interior appointments that further emphasise the sporty feel of this model include white centre console and facia trim, white instrument dials, ‘S’ badging on the door sills and ‘S’-badging embossed the black cloth upholstery with a white chequered pattern.
Having already gone on sale on the UK at the beginning of the year, the Clio S is now set to join Renault’s line up in Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and the Nordic regions, as well as France where it will be offered as a styling pack. In addition to the aforementioned locales, the Clio S will also find its way to Israel and Japan, and will reach our market by the middle of the year.