Carry On Renault Clio - Iconic Supermini Celebrates 20th Birthday

PARIS – March 26, 2010: Clio, one of Britain’s best-loved cars and one of the most iconic small cars ever made, comes of age this year as it turns 20.

Throughout its illustrious career, spanning more than two decades, Clio has become one of the highest-selling superminis of all time, notching up more than 10 million sales worldwide in more than 100 countries, including over one million in the UK alone.

To mark its birthday in suitable style, Renault has launched an upmarket special edition, badged fittingly as Clio ‘20th’.

Clio – a 20-year Anglo-French love affair
Curvaceous Clio debuted to considerable acclaim at the Paris Motor Show in 1990, prior to launching in the UK in March 1991. Being able to match, and even exceed, the phenomenal sales success of the Renault 5, the marque’s sharply-styled new Clio instantly won over a demanding public.

With sales success through first, second and, now, third-generations, the trend-setting French model continues to blur the traditional supermini boundaries by appealing to every type of buyer through its wide range of versions and body styles. From the first-time driver with an easily insurable three-door Extreme, through to the suburban parent with a diesel Sport Tourer, right up to the city dweller with a luxurious five-door Initiale TomTom and the performance enthusiast with a Renaultsport 200 Cup, each Clio offers a large dose of inimitable French style and a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’.

Throughout its glittering career, Clio has continued to set new standards for the supermini class, never more so than now, through a compelling package of affordability, comfort, practicality and style.

It has always been at the forefront of safety. In 2000, Clio was the first car in its class to secure a maximum four-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, followed in 2005 with sector-leading five-star status. Last, but by no means least, exacting build quality has seen it emerge as one of the most reliable cars in its class.

Clio and the small screen – a winning combination
Of course it would be impossible to chart Clio’s success without recalling its award-winning televisions ads, some of which are widely regarded as the most memorable and successful car advertising campaigns ever.

The Nicole and Papa story began on 1st April 1991, coinciding with the UK Clio launch. Over seven years and eight episodes, the father and daughter stole British hearts with their alluring French charm as they dashed around Paris, Provence and the Alps in their Clios. The series culminated in the final 1998 ad one Friday night with 23 million Brits glued to their sets to see the cliff-hanger wedding of Nicole to comedian, Vic Reeves, only to have her ‘elope’ with Bob Mortimer, the other half of the Reeves and Mortimer double act.

At the time, the ad attracted six million viewers more than Coronation Street. According to the independent Car Advertising Research Study by Sofres Automotive, the Nicole and Papa saga was the most successful car advertisement ever.

Fears that Renault would not be able to replicate the same kind of success with future ads proved groundless when the immortal words, ‘Va Va Voom’, were uttered for the very first time in 1998. The now legendary phrase was heard as part of seductive French actress, Hélène Mathieu’s ads in the ‘Size Matters’ campaign, for the launch of the first Clio Renaultsport, the 172. Just three years later, French striker, Thierry Henry, built on the phrase’s cult status in his series of ads which ran from 2001 to 2004. Still leaving people guessing as to the true meaning of ‘Va Va Voom’, the series left a more indelible impression when the phrase entered the Concise Oxford English Dictionary in 2004.

The hottest of hot hatches
Of course, none of this would have had quite the same impact had Clio not kept pace with the times. Aside from the multiple awards, multi-award winning advertising campaigns and impressive sales, the range has continued to evolve.

The performance versions especially have been consistently honed to perfection over the years. The critically acclaimed Clio Williams was succeeded by Renaultsport 172, 182, 182 Trophy, 197 and the current 200. In between, two versions of the awe-inspiring, mid-engined Clio Renaultsport V6 continued to keep honest a whole host of exotic sports saloons and supercars costing up to five times the price. The road might be its usual domain, but Clio also has a spiritual home on the track, and the Clio Cup race cars are still the biggest-selling one-make motorsport cars of all time. At the opposite end of the performance spectrum, there was even a successful Clio van.

Today, the Clio success story continues. The original three- and five-door versions now share the limelight with the practical and stylish Sport Tourer, while the Renaultsport 200 versions continue to reign supreme in the supermini hot hatch category.

Bringing the story right up to date, the latest version to appear on British shores is the eye-catching and sporty new ‘S’, while a 98 gram per kilometre CO2diesel version launches later this year in keeping with the brand’s environmental stance under its Renault eco²signature.

Clio 20th – a fitting special edition
To celebrate Clio's 20th birthday, Renault has released a fitting '20th' special edition. On sale in the UK now, the five-door model offers a wealth of luxury and style items in keeping with the car’s refined appeal.

This striking version of Clio is immediately recognisable through its specific '20th' badging on the B pillars, as well as the gloss black finish of its front bumper mouldings, door mirrors and detail on the body-coloured side mouldings which contrast with the body-colour door handles. On Pearl Black versions, these elements are finished in anthracite grey. They also benefit from stylish 16” Lyria alloy wheels and extra tinted rear windows and tailgate.

Inside the plush cabin, the dashboard features zinc grey air vent surrounds, dashboard inserts and centre console, in addition to '20th' badging on the front door sill kickplates. Based on the Dynamique TomTom trim level, the luxurious '20th' limited edition versions of Clio come comprehensively equipped with fully integrated Carminat TomTom satellite navigation*, climate control, cruise control, electrically adjustable and folding door mirrors, front and rear electric windows, Renault hands free card, speed limiter, ‘Sport’ upholstery and 4x20W radio CD MP3 player with Bluetooth hands free system with fingertip controls, four speakers and USB connection.

Several options are also on offer, including fixed cornering lights with black surrounds, electric panoramic sunroof and rear parking sensors.

Clio 20th comes with a choice of four engines, the first three of which come under the Renault eco² banner. 1.2 TCe 100, 1.5 dCi 86, 1.5 dCi 106 and 1.6 VVT 128.

The new Clio 20th models are available on-the-road from £14,671 for the 1.2 TCe 100, rising to £16,393 for the 1.5 dCi 106.