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2013 Renault Clio Details Surface: Report

Renault's all-new Clio light car is expected to debut at September's Paris Motor Show, replacing the ageing third-generation hatch.

Spy photos in recent months have offered a solid idea of what to expect of the car's styling, and a teas

Mike Stevens

01:0521 May 2012

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2013 Renault Clio Details Surface: Report

Renault's all-new Clio light car is expected to debut at September's Paris Motor Show, replacing the ageing third-generation hatch.

Spy photos in recent months have offered a solid idea of what to expect of the car's styling, and a teaser image earlier this month revealed a glimpse of its back-end.

Renault has stayed mum on the new Clio's technical details, but according to French magazine Le Figaro, an exclusive drive in the new model has revealed a number of clues.

The magazine reports that the new Clio will be offered with a brand-new 900cc three-cylinder petrol engine, utilising a turbocharger to produce 67kW and 135Nm of torque.

Renault's existing 1.5 litre dCi turbodiesel is also expected to feature, and a RenaultSport performance model will reportedly draw power from an enhanced version of the 140kW/240Nm turbocharged 1.6 litre petrol engine driving the Nissan Juke.

The current Clio RS is driven by a 2.0 litre four-cylinder engine delivering 147.5kW and 215Nm of torque, promising a 0-100km/h time of 6.9 seconds.

Depending on the variant, transmissions will reportedly include a dual-clutch automatic and two five-speed manual transmissions, with one featuring extra-long gearing for optimum fuel economy.

The report adds that interior options will include a dashboard finished in red, black, brown or white at no cost, and Renault itself has confirmed that its new R-Link infotainment system will debut with the Clio and the electric Zoe before spreading to other models.