Renault Clio S launched

The new Renault Clio S

The last ‘Sporty’ Renault Clio we reported on was the Clio RenaultSport 200 back in April last year. The RenaultSport Clio offers proper hot-hatch performance but isn’t exactly cheap. Plus the real demographic for the little Renault wouldn’t have a prayer of either affording the Clio RenaultSport or managing to insure it.

So Renault have done the sensible thing and resurrected the Renault Clio S to give a Clio with sporty pretensions but which is affordable to both buy and insure.

The Renault Clio S comes a a three door and features such ‘S’ goodies as Polar White alloys, a white front bumper and some less than subtle white graphics on the doors and roof. Throw in a white spoiler at the back and some heavier tints on the glass and you’ve completed the Clio S look.

The interior gets a similar treatment with an ‘S’ badge or three, a white centre console, white dials and white inserts on the dashboard. Oh, and don’t forget the leather steering wheel.

Based on the Expression spec, the Clio S comes with a choice of relatively tame engines – 1.2 16V 75, 1.2 TCe 100 and 1.5 dCi 86 – which although not getting close to the performance of the Clio RenaultSport will at least row the S along without too much trouble. And they’ll cost you next to nothing to insure and run.

Prices start at £11,209 for the 1.2 16V 75 and go up to £13,458 for the 1.5 dCi 86 A/C. You get a choice of four colours on the Clio S – Glacier White, Pearl Black, Capsicum Red and Extreme Blue.

Which rather begs the question – especially as Renault are making big play of the ‘White Graphic’ theme – what does the Clio S look like in white?

By Cars UK