All-New Renault Clio is a Gamechanger

The Renault Clio is one of the most recognisable names in the automotive world and is synonymous with small, reasonably priced superminis that are great to drive and offer lots of big-car appeals.

The hotly-anticipated all-new Renault Clio has been launched in Ireland to much acclaim.

With the previous generation Clio proving itself to be a huge sales success for the French manufacturer, the new model could not afford to be anything but perfect.

Thankfully, the all-new Clio is the most advanced, most driver-focused, safest, and most comfortable model in the Clio’s illustrious 30-year history.

Impressive Safety:

The all-new Renault Clio has received the coveted 5-star rating in the latest Euro NCAP safety tests.

Groupe Renault’s best-selling model has been tested according to its new stringent protocol launched in 2018, and won the highest score with results at the highest level of the market, regardless of the segment.

It is also one of the safest city cars ever tested by Euro NCAP. The safety performance achieved is due in part to the enhanced passive safety and the most comprehensive range of driving aids in the segment.

In addition, the all-new Clio’s excellent interior safety features make it possible to install a wide variety of child seats, both front and rear, on Isofix and with the I-size system, as well as featuring enhanced head protection for the rear passengers in case of a side impact.

Trim & Engine Options:

There are four trim levels to choose from in the new Renault Clio – Expression, Dynamique, Iconic, and range-topping RS Line.

The new Clio is better equipped than ever before, with even the entry-level Expression model benefiting from full LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, body-coloured door handles and mirrors, traffic sign recognition, cruise control with speed limiter, and heated front seats, along with a suite of active safety systems including lane-keep assist and automatic emergency braking.

Presently, there are four engines to choose from – three petrols and one diesel. The range starts with the SCe 75, a naturally aspirated 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit with 71bhp that’s only available with a five-speed gearbox.

A more sophisticated, turbocharged version of this engine is offered in the TCe 100, producing 99bhp and offered with a five-speed manual, or optional continuously variable transmission (CVT).

A four-cylinder petrol engine is offered in the form of the TCe GPF, a 1.3-litre unit that’s already been used in some much larger Renault cars including the Megane and Kadjar. It produces 128bhp and only comes in combination with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

The single diesel engine option is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit (Blue dCi 85) with 84bhp and a healthy 220Nm of torque.


Review Car:

My review car was a Renault Clio RS Line TCe 100, which looked amazing in Iron Blue metallic paint.

Key standard RS Line equipment includes 17” R.S. Line diamond-cut alloy wheels, an exclusively-styled front bumper with F1-style blade painted Gun Metal Grey with a Bee-Hive lower grille, front LED fog lights, oval chrome exhaust finisher, Gun Metal Grey rear spoiler and lower door protectors, rearview camera, front parking sensors, and a 9.3” Easylink infotainment system with satellite navigation and smartphone replication.

On the road, the new Clio proved itself to be a fun, proficient car to drive, with excellent driving dynamics for an overall terrific driving experience. Well-weighted steering and solid brakes ensure that the new Clio is a true driver’s car, while excellent levels of damping allow the car to handle road imperfections with ease.

The cabin in the new Clio is truly impressive, with excellent ergonomics and high-quality materials used throughout. Boot space has also increased, with 391-litres available with the rear seatbacks in place, and up to 1,069-litres on offer when the rear seats are folded flat.

The boot gets much of its volume thanks to its deep floor, yet the boot opening is wide and has a relatively low lip – two important factors when loading or unloading heavy items.

Verdict & Pricing:

Overall, the all-new Renault Clio is a star of the supermini class – well-built, good to drive and packed with technology too.

While the previous generation Clio was a well-balanced car in every respect, the latest iteration has genuinely upped its game. The new Renault Clio price starts at just (approximately) R358,000 and represents terrific value for money.
.
.
.
.

Original article from https://dublingazette.com/

Hitting The Open Road In The 2020 Renault Sandero Stepway Techroad

When the latest-generation Renault Sandero was introduced back in 2014, the Stepway version quickly surged in popularity to become the model of choice in the range.

And it’s not hard to see why.

For a relatively low price you get a decent-sized hatchback with an SUV-inspired design package and more safety kit than most of its rivals offer. No one’s pretending that this is some kind of bundu basher (for that you’ll have to get a Duster, which is also very reasonably priced) but the Stepway does at least strike the right chord with buyers seeking a bit of SUV flavour at the lower end of the market.

Renault has also kept it fresh over the years with subtle upgrades coming almost annually, and the latest enhancement - announced in August - sees the introduction of a new ‘Techroad’ model that replaces the Dynamique as the flagship of the range, presumably until something even more colourful comes along next year. That said, Dacia - which builds the Sandero for Renault - has already shown off a 2020 Renault Sandero, although at this stage it has yet to be confirmed for the local market.

So what sets the Stepway Techroad apart?

The styling changes are subtle but include unique design decals on the B-Pillars and lower doors as well as two-tone ‘alloy-look’ Flex wheel covers with blue centre caps and gloss black door mirrors. Cabin decor comes in the form of a new upholstery design with blue detailing.

As before, power comes from the familiar 900cc, three-cylinder turbo petrol, offering 66kW at 5250rpm and 135Nm from 2500 revs, and driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox.

While there’s nothing new to report on the engine front, our test slot coincided with a recent return trip from Joburg to Durban, which proved a perfect opportunity to see if this crossover hatch, which is usually confined to city driving, actually had the legs for long-distance driving.

All in all, it proved to be a mixed bag. I was impressed by its sense of refinement on the open road and the way the engine ticked away quietly at low revs when at cruising velocity. It definitely felt like a bigger car in terms of its overall refinement. However, when it came to tackling hills or overtaking slower traffic, it wasn’t quite as perky as I would have expected from a turbocharged engine, even given its small size.

Granted, it does get the job done when you gear down a cog or two, but I tried my best to stay in fifth for as long as possible in order to achieve optimal fuel consumption.

On that note, our test car sipped an average of 6.1 litres per 100km on the 1200km return trip.

Thankfully, this engine doesn’t sip too much more fuel in urban confines as a previous test car that we sampled in 2018 sipped 7.1 litres per 100km during a week of urban-heavy commuting.

Decent size, ample safety kit

It’s worth noting that the Sandero is a larger and heavier car than many of its price rivals, the Stepway tipping the scales at 1055kg, but its size and weight does come with its advantages in terms of overall cabin space as well as safety. On that note, the South African spec Sandero achieved an adult occupant rating of three stars in the ‘Safer Cars for Africa’ crash test performed by Global NCAP.

The Sandero also has more active safety and driver assistance features than most budget cars, including ESP stability control, emergency brake assistance (EBA) and hill-start assist. Passive safety kit comes in the form of dual front and side airbags.

In terms of practicality, the cabin feels spacious upfront, and while rear legroom is decent, it’s perhaps not as ample as I’d expect from a car of this size. The boot is very generous however and it actually seems bigger than the claimed volume of 292 litres - perhaps Renault didn’t stack it up to the top? Either way, our test car swallowed two peoples’ week-long luggage without a fuss.

The cabin is well-appointed and has all the latest infotainment features, including a touch screen infotainment system that’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the system also features a satnav and a reverse camera. Also standard on the Techroad is cruise control, electric mirrors and windows (front and rear) and rear park assist. Leather seat upholstery is a R10 000 option.

VERDICT

The Sandero Stepway is a solid, practical and fashionable ‘pumped up’ hatchback that makes a strong case for itself and as an entry into the crossover realm, it certainly makes some sense.

.

.

.

Original article from https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/

Renault likely to revive classic 4 and 5 nameplates for new EVs

The French firm is set to unveil a bold revival plan - which could include the return of some classic nameplates

Renault will reinvent a number of its classic models as electric cars as part of a bold turnaround plan set to be unveiled by new boss Luca de Meo, according to reports.

Former Seat boss de Meo was given the top job at the French giant last year. He has been working on a new business plan to boost sales and reposition the firm, which began last September with the unveiling of a major internal restructure. De Meo is now set to unveil the next phase in his plan on Thursday January 14, in an event billed as a 'Renaulution'.

Reuters, citing two sources, states that de Meo’s plan will focus on future product ranges, and will include the revival of at least two classic nameplates to strengthen the focus on Renault’s French heritage.

They will include an electric reinvention of the 4L, based on the city car originally launched in the 1960s as a rival to the Mini and Fiat 500. An electric version of the Renault 5, originally offered in two generations from 1972 until it was replaced by the Clio in 1996, is also reportedly set to be revealed.

No more details of the models have been given, but they could potentially share a platform with the existing Zoe electric hatch or use the new Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance CMF-EV electric platform, which Renault will first use for the forthcoming production version of the Megane eVision.

The Megane eVision is a crossover that uses the long-running nameplate of the firm’s family hatch, and also features a retro-infused design with numerous nods to Renault’s past. As with the Megane, reviving classic model names such as the 4 and 5 would be a way for Renault to pitch early electric models to a more style-focused audience, in a similar way to how Fiat has positioned its new electric 500.

Reuters also claims that Renault will reveal three electric models for its Alpine sub-brand. As previously reported by Autocar, Renault bosses have been considering turning Alpine into an electric-only performance brand, with a reshuffle last year securing the firm's long-term future.

Do Meo’s plan is also set to include culling several long-running models that have waned in popularity in recent years, including the Espace MPV.

.

.

.

Original article from https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/