Renault Clio

The Renault Clio is a supermini automobile produced by the French manufacturer Renault. Originally launched in 1990, it is currently in its third generation. The Clio has seen substantial critical and commercial success, being consistently one of Europe's top-selling cars since its launch, and it is largely credited with restoring Renault's reputation and stature after a difficult second half of the 1980s.

The Clio is sold as the Renault Lutecia in Japan. A four-door sedan is sold in some markets in Latin America as the Nissan Platina. In markets where the four-door carries a Renault badge, it is known as the Renault Clio Symbol or Renault Thalia.

Clio (1990-1998)

The Clio was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in the autumn of 1990 and began sales in France soon after, although sales in the rest of Europe did not begin until March 1991. The Clio largely replaced the Renault 5 (which continued to be built until 1996 as a budget alternative). The engine range available at launch included 1.2L, 1.4L, E-type "Energy" petrol engines (first seen in the R19) and 1.6L and a 1.9L diesel (both based on the F-type unit). The petrol engines all received fuel injection in place of the carburettors in 1992, in order to conform to new pollutant emission regulations. In 1996 with the arrival of the Phase 3 Clio's the 1.2 Energy was replaced by the 1149cc D7F MPi (Multi Point Injection) engine first used in the Renault Twingo. The head design on the 1.4 E-Types was also slightly altered. During 1991 a 1.8L 16-valve engine producing 137hp (also first seen in the R19) capable of propelling the car to 125mph was introduced. A cheaper model, aesthetically very similar to the Clio RT with a 1.8L 8-valve engine was also released, badged 'RSi'.

The Clio was voted European Car of the Year for 1991, and the Clio immediately became one of Europe's best-selling cars, as well as the first Renault to be consistently among the top-10 best sellers in the United Kingdom. UK sales were helped by a famous television advertising campaign by Publicis shot in France, featuring the two main characters of Nicole and Papa.