Renault has revealed the facelifted Clio which is confirmed to be coming to South Africa in late 2024.
It may seem strange to hear that the hatchback is already getting an update, given that the current model only launched in February last year, but the fifth-generation Clio was actually supposed to go on sale before the Covid-19 pandemic – which consequently led to it being delayed to 2022.
Knowing that the Renault was supposed to be on sale for two years longer than it has been so far, it makes far more sense to see the upcoming unit as a mid-life facelift for one of the most recognizable entries in its segment.
What to expect
The facelifted Clio sports a much more aggressive-looking front end thanks to a new chrome grille, slimmer LED headlights, and a new front diffuser.
It also features the brand’s new logo with a brushed chrome effect, and redesigned LED daytime running lights that now run from the headlights down to the bumper.
Depending on the model chosen, you can also expect alloy wheels of up to 17 inches, a shark fin antenna, and items like the door mirrors will receive either a gloss or matte black finish.
The colour scheme this time around will also let you choose from Arctic White, Platinum Gray, Pearl Black, Iron Blue, Decir Red, Valencia Orange, and Rafal Gray.
For the interior, the French carmaker has ditched the leather – replacing it with polyester and organic fibres in the higher trim levels.
Other changes include the dashboard, which now features a digital driver screen of up to 10 inches and a tablet-style infotainment system measuring 9.3 inches.
The hatchback also comes with on-board navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and as many as 20 new assistance functions like pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, a 360-degree camera, and level 2 automated parking.
Given that it’s a facelift and not a whole new generation, the engine line-up is likely to remain the same as for the outgoing model, meaning South Africans can expect a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 74kW and 160Nm.
With this setup, the current Clio sprints to 100km/h in 11.8 seconds and reached a top speed of 187km/h, while fuel consumption works out to 5.7l/100km, and it’s expected that the new Clio will achieve within the ballpark of these figures.
In South Africa, the fifth-gen Clio is only available with the five-speed manual gearbox, and it remains to be seen whether or not the automaker will introduce an automatic transmission when the new models touch down next year.
More details surrounding the new Renault Clio, such as its pricing and model line-up, will be revealed closer to its South African launch date.
2024 Renault Clio
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