CARS GLOBALMAG August 2016 | Page 44

EVEN MORE AGILE Having achieved more than 13 million sales since it was first launched in 1990, the CLIO is the bestselling French car of all time. That success story now continues with New CLIO which will go on sale in more than 100 countries from September 2016. In order to keep apace with this success, the Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia will become the fourth factory to assemble New CLIO from February 2017, in addition to Bursa in Turkey, Flins and Dieppe in France for Renault Sport versions New CLIO stands apart from the competition thanks to its full-LED front lighting signature. At the front, full LED “Pure Vision” headlights fulfil the dual function of dipped and main beam. This technology enhances the vehicle’s appearance as well as safety by emitting a light that is 20 percent more powerful than a halogen beam whilst at the same time reducing glare. On higher-end versions, New CLIO’s headlamps additionally incorporate C-shaped LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), emblematic of the brand’s new lighting signature. The permanent rear LED lights mirror this look by similarly adopting a C-shaped design (depending on version, hatchback body type only). In its entry-level and mid-range versions, New CLIO benefits from LED Daytime Running Lights and a chrome trim along the bottom of the grille. At the front, the top grille that houses the logo has been redesigned, as has the lower grille which is now visibly broader and more modern. At the rear, the skirt has been redesigned for additional robustness. Meanwhile, four new colours have been added to the existing selection (Intense Red, Titanium Grey, Pearly White and Iron Blue), along with new wheel and wheel trim designs. The New CLIO benefits from the introduction of materials more usually employed by Renault’s top-of-the-range models. The texture of its plastics is of a higher visual and tactile quality,