New Clio 'to become an icon'

The next Renault Clio will bring sensational, daring design back to the French firm’s model ranks.

That's the view of Steve Norman, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing for Renault, who gave Autocar inside information on the forthcoming supermini recently, describing it as “a car with the makings of an icon”.

"Clio IV has the potential to do two things for us: to make us the leading player in Europe’s biggest market sector, and to show a new generation of buyers how fantastic our cars can look," said Norman.

“I can’t describe just how amazing it looks. It’s a real masterstroke of design. You have to see it for yourself to believe it.”

Those outside of Renault will get a sneak peak of the next Clio at the Paris motor show this coming September. The car will be previewed by an advanced Clio concept.

"It’s quite a far-fetched show car, nothing like a conventional supermini," said Norman. "But it’ll gives you a flavour of what to expect.”

Company insiders suggest that the new Clio takes several cues from the Zoe concept – a similarly-sized, all-electric hatchback headed for production as one of La Regie’s ‘Z.E.’ electric vehicles.

It’s also rumoured that, while design work on the Clio IV was already underway in early 2009, new Renault design boss Laurens van den Acker ordered several changes to the car when he arrived in May of last year.

Van den Acker recently told Autocar that the new Clio “has the McDonald’s ‘Big Mac’ factor: it’s a very pretty car - good enough to eat!”