characteristics, price and technical file

Europe has made the decision to walk to the electric car. That it reaches the destination of 2035, with the approach to eliminate the sale of cars with combustion engines or that stumbles and a friendly hand helps you get up is something that only time will say.

At the moment, the rules are written. And the rules say that cars cannot be sold with Combustion engines in 10 years (provided they are not neutral in carbon). But before, in 2030 and 2027 must be met Two milestones that should pave the way.

The first says that brands will have to give an account in two years. Finished 2027 should appear before Europe to show them that The average fleet emissions sold between 2025 and 2027 It is less than 93.6 gr/km of CO2. In 2030, this figure is reduced by half. And the only way to get it is electrifying (and much) sales.

But also adding with cars with combustion engines. As? With all those who move on the border or below the border of those 93.6 gr/km of CO2 so that they are not a river when counting. That forces to make an important economic effort and throw many accounts.

Because electrifying a car is a greater economic effort. More expensive prices that reduce the margin of benefits in the range that leaves the most meager figure of the entire fleet.

Solution? Make a car with love.

Renault Clio Technical Card

Much pampering

“When we designed this car we put it locked. We had to take risks and knew that if it was seen in the early stages of the project they were going to cancel it.”

Who speaks is Paula Fabregat, Head of Design of Renault in segments A and B. His words, while he describes each and every one of the details of the Renault Clio distil passion. He explains that designing a Renault Clio again is a capital challenge. “It is an icon For the brand but we were commissioned to do something totally new. From first I may not even remind you of a CLIO, ”Fabregat tells us.

And indeed, no. It does not remind us of a Clio. At least first. Is that bad? Of course not. The front is baroque, full of edges and tension lines. Play with a curved surface on the side, much more complex than it is usually common in this price range. And closes with a rear equally baroque and very risky.

Whether or not the market like. I recognize that the front does not finish fit. On the contrary, it seems very meritorious such a risky rearwith four optical groups that clearly remember a supercar. I would not say that the Renault Clio is beautiful or beautiful but of course it is a car that does not leave indifferent, that risks with each new generation. And win (a lot) live.

The Renault Clio no longer plays in his own league, plays a sport that has been very complicated. The small and cheap car with combustion engine that, with the discomforts of its size, takes you everywhere but is a city winning spin no longer exists. A Seat Ibiza with an 116 hp engine (without electrifying) already plays on the border of the 20,000 euros. The cheapest Hyundai i20 with eco label (soft hybridization) also moves in those prices. The price of this Renault Clio has not yet been revealed but nothing tells us that it will be cheap.

In Renault they play a step further. If they cannot compete for price for the technical obligations that are obliged to assemble (we return to Europes regulations, also in terms of security), they want to earn the favor of customers for offering a round product, well finished and with a technology at the height.

That commitment to design is no accident. But neither are the multitude of details that can be seen inside. The instrument box maintains the 10 -inch screens game that we have seen in other group models. It comes promoted by Open R link, its operating system Mounted on Android Autowith access to Google Assistant, Google Maps or Google Play (they already tell us that it is compatible with streaming applications such as HBO or Amazon). As standard, the car is delivered with a monthly 2 GB data package for two years.

There are very good details inside. In the dashboard a textile finish is used in all its versions. The seats seem comfortable (it will have to be confirmed with a test) and the physical controls have a good touch and are well topped. The good work of Renault in ergonomics in recent years is replicated in the Clio and is not chosen to reduce the pilot’s position.

These details of spoiled car are more evident in their alpine finish level, with matching blue seams with small details of the same tone on the tires or on the front headlights. And risky moldings such as the horizontal plastic that the classic metal tones of the escapes with a gradged between the silver, multiple purple, lilac and blue. Risky and a little macarra. They have my instant “yes”.

The real challenge for Renault is to convince with an engine that justifies a greater disbursement for a “small car.” It arrives with a 120 hp four -cylinder LPG option and a 115 hp trichillindrical gasoline engine that can be combined with a manual or automatic gearbox.

But the star engine and the one that Renault has to sell a lot if he does not want the average emissions to be complicated is the Full hybrid e-tech. A 1.8 -liter gasoline four -cylinder block that is combined with a large battery for a hybrid. We have an electrical accumulator of 1.4 kWh that manage to maintain consumption and emissions at bay.

The result is a complex 160 hp hybrid motor that promises consumption in mixed cycle, according to WLTP, of just 3.8 liters and what, for the brand it is more important, emissions of 89 gr/km of CO2. For us to get an idea, its un -electrified tricylindrical records 114 gr/km of CO2 with manual change and 116 gr/km of CO2 with automatic change.

That is a slab that can only be counteracted with the sale of two plug -in hybrids or an electric For each clio without electrifying Put in the market. The fine that flies over is very hard: 95 euros per gram overcome and car sold. That is, with Renault sales last year in Europe, which were 1.28 million carswe would talk about a sanction of 121.79 million cars for each gram of CO2 surpassed in the average sales.

It is no accident that, as we say, Renault has opted for the way to electrify its little one conscientiously and fill it with technology (it can incorporate up to 29 ADAS, among which it is braking emergency rear, adaptive cruise control or door lock if the output is not safe).

That, without a doubt, should make its price more expensive. But at least, everything indicates that this sixth generation of Renault Clio is very careful. If we talk about sales, the mountain they have before it is capital, with Chinese firms that offer more space for the same price. Of course, it cannot be said that Renault has not put all the meat on the grill to justify the expected price increase.

No, surely it will not be the most affordable Renault Clio in history. But therefore, more risks were never taken, the product was taken care of and it was endowed with such an advanced technology. We will have to try it to check if the product meets what it promises.

Photos | Xataka

In Xataka | I have left a weekend with the Renault 5. This is all that awaits who is bought a cheap electric car