2017 Renault Clio revealed
French brand’s small car gets a refresh ahead of Australian debut.
- Renault reveals Clio RS 16 at Monaco GP
- Road test: Renault Clio RS
- Head to head: Renault Clio RS versus Ford Fiesta ST
Renault has pulled the covers off its refreshed Clio small car, which is due to lob in Australian showrooms early 2017.
The lightly updated hatch features cosmetic updates that share parallels with the Clio RS 16 Concept that was unveiled last month. Chiefly, the overall profile and shape of the Clio remains unchanged, with the extent of revisions based around a new-look front bumper, new LED headlamps that incorporate C-shaped running lights and a lightly updated bumper insert at the rear. The changes are paired with new alloy and wheel trims, and four new exterior colours.
Inside, the facelifted Clio is all virtually carryover with the exception of higher quality cabin plastics that raise the feel and ambience of the baby Renault.
The Clio will be fitted a choice of three infotainment systems available with Bose audio. Base models get a smartphone app that uses your phone as an infotainment panel, while higher-spec versions get conventional touchscreen displays (known as R-Link Evolution and Media Nav Evolution). The full details of these systems is not yet available.
The Clio will continue to be offered with a two petrol engines: a 66kW/135Nm 900cc three-cylinder unit and a 88kW/190Nm 1.2-litre four-cylinder.
The light upgrades will likely extend to the Clio RS, which is yet to be unveiled in 2017 guise. At present, the RS' 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine makes 147kW and 240Nm in RS200 guise and 162kW and 260Nm in RS220 guise.
Meantime, Renault is yet to shed any further details on the RS 16 Concept - a car driven by the larger Megane RS' 201kW/360Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine – specifically, whether it will ever make production.