CLIO ENJOYS SIXTH SENSE

Colours include Absolute Red

- BY JUSTIN DELANEY

IRISH motorists have always had a soft spot for the Renault Clio. Since arriving in 1990, it has consistently reinvented itself while holding onto the qualities that made it one of Ireland's favourite small cars - with each generation bringing something genuinely new.

The original Clio proved that a compact hatchback could offer the comfort and refinement of something bigger.

Clio II doubled down on comfort with its cocoon-like cabin, while Clio III pushed quality to new heights and introduced technology that felt ahead of its time.

Clio IV changed the game again with its flowing, modern design, and Clio V embraced the digital era with a large central screen and a more connected interior.

Over the years the engine lineup has also played a key role in its popularity, from the famously efficient 1.5 dCi diesel, which ran on the smell of an oily rag, to the more recent E-Tech hybrid that quickly became a major seller across Europe.

DEPARTURE

With nearly 17million sold globally, the Clio remains the bestselling French car of all time and a familiar sight on Irish roads.

Now it's time for the sixth-generation Clio to try continue this legacy of reinvention with a design departure few expected.

A longer bonnet, extended wheelbase and wider track shift its overall stance closer to that of a compact coupe than a traditional hatchback.

A sloping roofline, integrated spoiler and shark-fin antenna give it a sleek profile, while a new grille featuring diamond motifs and a distinctive lighting signature frames the redesigned Renault badge.

At the rear, four sculpted taillights inspired by supercar styling contribute to a more beefy appearance.