Jalopnik: clio

The Jalopnik Top 20 Classic Renault TV Commercials

Murilee Martin — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST

Even though Renault never had a big presence here in North America, we can still admire the TV commercials for their cars. Spanning the spectrum from salacious to surreal, Renault ads rarely fail to entertain.

We've got nearly 50 years of Renault madness here, from North and South America, Africa, and- of course- Europe. And if you manage to slog through every last one… well, you know the drill by now; if this collection is just insufficient Classic Ad Watch action for you, continue with the Top Super Bowl Car Ads, then keep going with our Top 20 Vintage GM ads, Top 20 Vintage Chevrolet Ads, Top 20 Vintage Datsun ads, Top 20 Vintage Toyota ads, and Top 20 Vintage Chrysler ads. Need more? Go to the Top Car Commercials Of The 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

1981 Le Car	1988 5	1961 Dauphine	1986 21
1980 18 Diesel	1987 18	2008 Kangoo	2007 All Models
2002 Mégane	1981 Fuego GTX	1982 5	1982 18i
1983 Fuego Turbo	1999 Clio MTV	1981 5	1985 Encore
1959 Dauphine	1984 Encore	1998 Clio	1966 4

2009 Renault Clio Refreshed For Geneva

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST

Renault's freshens things up with the 2009 Clio and 2009 Clio Sport with a mid-cycle change to keep styling and options up-to-date with the competition. Both debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show.

The newly de-weirdified Clio gets Euro-generic standard hatch styling cues and a new TomTom nav system. Aaaaand that's about it. Looks a lot like a Toyota Matrix that went on a diet and got an interesting interior.

NEW RENAULT CLIO THE NEW BENCHMARK

New Renault Clio opens a new chapter in the Clio saga which began in 1990 and which has since seen the model go from strength to strength.

New Renault Clio stands out as a versatile, balanced package which carries over the same qualities that saw Clio III take the 'Car of the Year ' award in 2006, namely benchmark cabin space, safety, comfort and roadholding, as well as the same rigorous build quality that has made it one of its segment's most reliable models.

Renault's new compact hatchback features:

renewed styling which incorporates the same dynamic cues as those which have become the hallmarks of New Renault Mégane's front end,a new GT version, enabling Renault Clio customers to sample the world of sporty motoring.

New Renault Clio GT boasts racy looks and 'fun to drive' handling.

Carminat TomTom, the first fully integrated and affordable GPS navigation solution. Renault's latest navigation solution has been co-developed with TomTom and will be dual branded. The navigation solution, easily updateable on the internet, has a large colour screen, and will include traffic and speed limit information, as well as safety camera locations, at a price of less than €500.

A compact hatchback which reinforces Clio's family ties with New Renault Mégane
New Renault Clio sits squarely on the road and boasts more streamlined styling, with the lines of the headlamp modules now extending down to the lateral upturns of the front air intake. Indeed, the broad air intake in the lower part of the front bumper sets off the dynamic frontal styling which are also suggested by the presence of gloss black protective mouldings. The revised design of the rear lights prolongs the waist line across the hatch, while the uncluttered approach to the design of the central part of the rear bumper further emphasizes New Renault Clio's dynamic stance. The reversing lights and foglamps are positioned low down and to the extreme right and left of the bumper.
The choice of the new interior trims and equipment was guided by a desire to produce a sense of well-being and perceived quality, and the screen of the Carminat TomTom GPS navigation system is perfectly integrated into the upper part of the centre console.

New Renault Clio GT: an unprecedented version with genuine character
As with other Renault models, a GT version forms part of the New Renault Clio range. The compact and racy New Renault Clio GT hatchback features an exclusive body colour, Malta Blue. Its frontal styling is more aggressive and includes a gloss black grille, while the side sills hint at the performance of the GT version's specific suspension. New Renault Clio GT is easily recognizable from the rear thanks to its twin exhaust tailpipes and lip spoiler.
There are eye-catching sporty details inside the car, too, including drilled aluminium pedal covers and extra side support for the seats, plus GT-badging for the front seats.

Carminat TomTom: the first fully integrated, updatable and affordable navigation solution
Renault's latest GPS navigation solution, Carminat TomTom, is the fruit of the carmaker's partnership with TomTom to bring affordable integrated navigation solutions to Renault customers. Ready to start working from the moment you start the car and particularly easy to use, the solution will give Clio drivers a safe and stress-free driving experience.
Some of the features the Carminat TomTom will have are:
an easy-to-read 5.8 inch (14.7cm) colour screen (larger than that of removable systems) for the display of detailed birds-eye view maps, reliable, updateable navigation complete with traffic, safety camera locations and speed limit information, at a price of less than €500.

All the fundamentals of Clio III

New Renault Clio boasts the same qualities that saw Clio III earn the 'Car of the Year ' award in 2006, namely:
benchmark interior space and comfort,acclaimed ride comfort,a wide choice of responsive, environmentally friendly engines,a range of equipment from the next segment up, including a hands-free card and cruise control with speed limiter,outstanding safety credentials,the same rigorous build quality that has made it one of the most reliable cars of its segment.

The motoring public will be given the opportunity to take a more detailed look at New Renault Clio at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show.

2009 Renault Clio Facelift Spotted Ahead Of Geneva

Ben Wojdyla — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

The 2009 Geneva Auto Show will see the reveal of a trio of refreshed vehicles from Renault, but the 2009 Renault Clio's already been spotted early by an Autoweek.nl forumite lurking in a parking structure.

In addition to the facelifted Clio we see here, we'll also get a look at an updated 2009 Renault Scenic, Grand Scenic and Megane Coupe RS at Geneva. But for the moment, only the Clio was hanging out without camo in some European garage.

The new Clio seems to do away with a bit of that French funkiness in favor of a bit more mainstream look. Despite getting a less crazy shape, it does look quite fetching in this searing shade of green. Expect complete details to emerge as the car makes its debut in March. [Autoweek.nl Forums via Carscoop]

Renault Introduces Sport Clio R3 Maxi Access For Entry-Level Rallying

Andrew Stoy — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:20:00 EDT

Entry-level rallying...now there's a concept we can get behind, and Renault's provided a new toy with the introduction of its Renault Sport Clio R3 Maxi Access hot hatch. The French automaker says the R3 Access is designed for folks interested in tarmac rallying, containing a full roll cage, six-speed sequential gearbox and limited-slip differential. The suspension is suitably beefed-up, and the little 2-liter engine screams out 200 HP thanks to cam and breathing tweaks. If you're in France and interested in a Maxi Access setup in kit form, expect to pay the equivalent of just under $45,000.

[Carscoop]

Hot Hatch Showdown

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EDT

With auto show season officially, mercilessly and thankfully over, the Jalopnik Fantasy Garage stands to be full in just six weeks. A short time by any standard, but especially so when distilling over a hundred years of automotive excellence into just 50 vehicles. Two weeks ago saw the induction of the Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, a car so finely crafted only a communist would disapprove. In this week's edition, we switch gears entirely. Compact, lightweight automobile construction, responsive suspension, spicy engine and a slick manual transmission. It's a simple formula which, if done properly, not only results in a car with character, but one which transcends the bottom-of-the-barrel genre and becomes something of legend, something which can ascend to the level of fantasy. This week, we examine the hot hatch.

Here's the deal, it's going to be a knock down, drag out fight with no elimination rounds, no brackets, no BS — a winner takes all match up between four of the most remarkable hot hatches ever to be tossed around a corner with glee. And in this fight, we'll let age go before beauty.

1963 Mini Cooper S
Arguably the very first hot hatch, despite its lack of said hatch, the Mini itself was a revolutionary leap forward in car design for post-war Britain. When notable F1 race car designer John Cooper approached the legendary designer of the Mini about a higher performance edition, Alec Issigonis thought the idea unacceptable, this was a working mans car after all, not a race car. Undaunted, Cooper went above his head and received the blessing of BMC directly for the project. 1961 saw the first high performance Mini Cooper but it grew into its skin in 1963 when a 1071cc short-stroke, four-cylinder replaced the long-stroke 997cc engine. The '63 Mini Cooper S was a fantastic performer with up to 70 HP from the tiny engine. To say the handling of the Mini Cooper S is the stuff of legend is something of an understatement - how many other compact cars can claim David-versus-Goliath-like wins at Monte Carlo over cars many times its size and power?

1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI
The Mk1 Golf GTI is spoken about in hushed tones and with quiet reverence among fans of the econobox-turned-road-racer. The GTi was a breath of fresh air in a stagnant, malaise-mandated European market. The Golf was a handsome design to begin with, penned in the workshops of Guigiaro, and sporting a 1.5L four cylinder, the GTI got interesting upgrades that took it from everyman transporter to corner carving joy buzzer. Chief among the upgrades was one of the first entry market applications of fuel injection, wider track and tires, uprated anti-roll bars and stiffer springs, along with that famous red-rimmed grille. The Golf was rebadged as the Rabbit and produced in Pennsylvania for the 1978 model year, making it the first domestically produced European car in history. A GTI version followed for the US market in 1983. Though there aren't any Monte Carlo wins under its belt, few cars did as much to beat back the 'car as appliance' mindset which pervaded the '80s era auto industry, and the hot hatch survives today in large part due to it's existence.

1986 Dodge Omni GLH-S
Though Carroll Shelby is better known for his involvement in cars like the Cobra 427, Daytona, and Mustang, it's nut job projects like the GLHS that should really be putting him into the Automotive Hall of Fame. The 1985 Dodge Omni GLH was a bonkers car to begin with, starting with the turbo-four out of the Shelby Charger, but Carroll took the last 500 of the Omni GLH and added some more. Goes Like Hell - Somemore, a name only a speed crazed Texan could come up with, was apt. The already potent, for '85, Chrysler turbo 2.2L four was upgraded with an intercooler, prototype fuel rail and remapped fuel delivery curve and delivered 175 HP and 174 lb/ft of torque. The suspension gained Koni adjustable shocks up front and coilovers in the rear, and some sticky tires on custom wheels. Our favorite modification is a sticker on the speedometer hailing the possibility of 135 mph - it just has such a smirk inducing quality to it. All that added together to produce a real street burner. The GLH-S would do 0-60 in 6.5 ticks and run up to 130 mph. It takes a certain kind of mad man to make a Simca designed econobox run with a Corvette.

2003 Renault Clio V6
Not many cars can make the claim to fame of being one of the ten Jeremy Clarkson would place in his personal fantasy garage. The Renault Clio V6 Renault Sport is an example of what happens when madness reaches its inevitable end. Yes, the DS is a beautiful automotive achievement and the CS has a nearly magical suspension, but this Renault may be the most impressive example ever of the French passion for the automobile. For those who have never seen a Clio in person, it is not a large or imposing car, not by any stretch of the imagination. Somewhere the bean counters fell asleep and the batshit crazy idea of dropping a V6 into the back seat of an econo-car slipped by, and the world is a better place for it. The 255 HP naturally aspirated V6 from a Renault Laguna motivates the Clio from just behind the drivers seat and spills its beautiful music into the open air. 0-60 comes in a quick 5.6 seconds and the car tops out at 153 MPH. Bonkers. Sure it loses pretty much all of its utility as a hatchback, the turning circle is atrocious, it's expensive, and it gulps fuel, but the insanity excuses all of that.

So there you have it, four cars from four decades, each with its own character and achievements. However, there can be only one. We know there will be rants over cars not included in this poll as the hot hatch has been a stalwart of automotive affection for a long time, but these are the four today. So what will it be? The British bulldog, the sharp steering German, a bold and brash American, or proof of France's sporting chops? Have at it folks.

Image sources here, here, here, and here.

Women, Money, Power... or a Renault Clio?

Murilee Martin — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:15:00 EST

So you're a young Argentinian dude and you find your Renault in a bit of a pickle, road-safety-wise. Señor Prince of Darkness offers you what sounds like a pretty sweet deal. Do you take it? The Clio isn't anywhere near as cool as the '65 Rambler Rogue-based Renault Torino, so maybe the Evil One will throw in a couple of them in on the deal!

Out of the Park: The 'World Series by Renault' Clio Renault Sport Edition

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:45:56 EDT

If ever there was a French specialty in the car market, it's this particular construct of hot hatchback: a taut, track-ready sort with a squat comportment and naturally aspirated four that pulls like a mid-80s Mustang GT. Renault's unveiled yet another version of its rapidly expanding Clio RS line; this one based on its damped-and-tamped Cup chassis. The 'World Series by Renault' Clio Renault Sport Edition small hatchback was officially presented to the public last weekend at France's Magny-Cours track. It's got a 200-horsepower 16-valve four displacing two liters, linked to a TL4 six-speed box — both products of the Renault-Nissan alliance. Top speed is a sprightly 138 miles per hour. Look for it now in a UK forecourt near you.

Press Release:

"WORLD SERIES BY RENAULT" CLIO RENAULT SPORT
POWERFUL, TECHNICAL AND AFFORDABLE

To coincide with the World Series by Renault meeting at France's Magny-Cours racetrack which took place the last weekend, Renault Sport Technologies presented the "World Series by Renault" Clio Renault Sport, a unique celebration of this increasingly popular top-class motor sports event. This exceptional car emphasizes pure performance and motoring passion, combining highly distinctive looks with true sports performance, largely thanks to Cup chassis and thanks to a new gearbox staging, which will be appearing across the Clio Renault Sport range from October. In France, the "World Series by Renault" Clio Renault Sport is priced at €21,900. Order books open across the Renault dealer network in week 39 for the UK and in week 43 for France, Spain and Italy.

World Series by Renault
Under a motor sports concept unique in Europe, World Series by Renault events have drawn a total audience of 1,500,000 since the first meeting was held in 2005. The events combine a quality sports programme with other features appealing to a broader public than motor sports fans alone. To coincide with the World Series by Renault event at the Magny-Cours racetrack which took place the last weekend, Renault Sport Technologies presented the "World Series by Renault" Clio Renault Sport. This signature edition features a highly distinctive appearance, with black satin-finish wheels, dark anthracite hubcaps, and special "World Series By Renault" décor.

High performance with new gearbox staging
The "World Series by Renault" Clio Renault Sport makes the very most of the expressive personality of the 16-valve 2-litre normally aspirated engine, which is both supple (peak torque of 215 Nm at 5500 rpm) and powerful (200 hp [145kW] at 7250 rpm). The engine is coupled through a TL4 six-speed manual gearbox developed under the Renault-Nissan Alliance. On the fifth and sixth gears, the staging has been extended to improve vehicle acoustics, under motorway driving conditions in particular. The car reaches a top speed of 223 km/h. This gearbox adaptation will be carried across to all Clio Renault Sport versions
from October.

Chassis and setup effective in the extreme
In France and United Kingdom, the "World Series by Renault" Clio Renault Sport benefits from the Cup chassis and Dark Anthracite black satin-finish wheels combine to improve handling feel and precision. With a stance slung 7mm lower than Clio Renault Sport, it boasts a lower centre of gravity which reduces load transfer, so offering more effective cornering (with circuit time gains of 0.2s per kilometre). Its cornering power on the flat is further enhanced by damper setups and increased spring stiffness (+27% at the front, +30% at rear) for higher performance and extreme pleasure. With a 10% increase in bending stiffness and more flexible bump stops, the double-axis strut system derived directly from Clio Renault Sport expresses its full potential.

We Want Our Clio MTV

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:00:00 EDT

A few years ago, Sweet Peet D. congratulated General Motors for using James Brown's "Sex Machine" in an advertisement. What Mr. DeLorenzo failed to mention is that Renault, apparently, had done it first and done it better. Ladies and gentlemen, may we present to you the Renault Clio MTV.

Renault Clio RS Spot

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:45:00 EDT

We were watching a Tivo'd episode of On The Lot last night and thinking about how genuinely bad the short films were. Kudos, however, to the guy who cast Reginald VelJohnson. Poor Reginald. On the other hand, this little gem of a clip for the Renault Clio RS features danger, ingenuity and panache. And it's pretty to look at, as well. Why must American car commercials insist on being so unfortunate?

Related:
Yay! Smoking in Cars! [Internal]

Why We Love Clarkson: Clio 182

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 02:16:08 EST

This afternoon I semi-intentionally opened up a can o'worms concerning Jalopnik and Global Warming. I also just finished Jezzo's latest book, The World According to Clarkson: And Another Thing in which my favorite British auto-journo states, "I don't believe in global warming." Point blank, just like that. And I was thinking about the tongue-lashing my English cousins gave me over the holidays when I admitted to absolutely loving the man. Is he a wrongheaded bag of hot air? Did they have a point? No, they didn't, as Jeremy is simply the best in the business. Watch the above clip and trip out on the man's use of metaphor. Spot on, perfect. Admire the roller-coaster analysis of the Clio 182; It's fast, it's rubbish, it's fantastic, it's cheap, it's epic. He likes it, he hates it, he absolutely loves it. As we do him. Never mind the bollocks, long live Clarkson! – Jonny LIeberman

Related:
Clarkson Pits XKR vs. AMV8 [Internal]

Race on Dimanche, Sell on Lundi: Renault's Limited-Edition Clio F1 Team

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 08:20:57 EST

What would owning a championship Formula One team be without synergistic marketing tie ins? Not much, of course. And so, Renault's unveiled a special edition Clio, the Renaultsport 197 F1 Team on the unveiling occasion of the Renault F1 team's new R27 car for the 2007 season. Like the M gane Renaultsport 230 F1 Team R26 before it, the little Clio gets sport-tuned underpinnings the company calls its "Cup" chassis (an upcoming option on the Clio Renaultsport 197), which includes stiffer springs and dampers and a lowered ride height. Visually, it's yellow like Renault's racing livery, and sports red brake calipers, alloy wheels in anthracite and various identifying stick-ons. The interior's marked by Recaro seats and a numbered plaque. Expect a more substantial coming-out f te at the Geneva show in March. – Mike Spinelli

Renault Clio Nabs European Car of the Year Award

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 07:46:16 EST

Renault's Clio hatchback beat out the VW Passat, Alfa Romeo 159 and BMW 3-Series to become the European car of the year for 2005. The 58 journalists from 22 countries who judged the award deemed the new Clio just more worthy than more expensive sedans, and its close competitor the Toyota Yaris, due to its refinements and road presence. It's good news for Americans, who will see the Clio appear next year in the form of its platform-mate Nissan Versa economy hatchback. Its rivalry with Toyota will continue when the Toyota Yaris arrives close behind.

Clio Renaultsport Concept: Infused With F1 Cues

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 09 Aug 2005 13:30:43 EDT

The new Renault Clio, aka "Son of LeCar," just got the boy-racer treatment as a teaser of what's to come from Renaultsport, the French automaker's performance division. We like the treatment, and although an underbody diffuser, supposedly "derived directly from Formula 1 racing cars," seems like a wee bit of overkill on a hatchback powered by a naturally-aspirated four, it does add a manly element to an otherwise cute little econobox.

Clio Renaultsport Concept [Dubspeed Racing]

Related:
The Look of Fast [Internal]