Renault confirms new Clio will be revealed imminently

Auto Car

25-07-2025

New supermini will introduce radical new look and is set to offer hybrid power exclusively
Open gallery
New car is recognisable as a Clio but introduces several new design cues…
…including a diamond-pattern grille
Twin-decked lip spoilers hint at importance of aerodynamic performance
Close
Renault has confirmed that the new sixth-generation Renault Clio will be revealed imminently, with September's Munich motor show a likely venue for the supermini's debut.
Currently the best selling car in Europe in its facelifted fifth-generation form, the next Clio is set to go on sale early next year with one of its biggest overhauls in generations.
Renault has not confirmed a precise reveal date, but has announced details of a 'pre-show' unveiling for the new supermini, which would suggest it will be the the French firm's headline unveiling in Munich on 8 September.
Renault has revealed an important new model at every European motor show since the pandemic, including the Renault 5, 4, Twingo, Turbo 3E, Scenic and Mégane E-Tech.
While it will also bring a host of new design cues, such as a more prominent nose and twin-decked lip rear spoilers, the sixth–generation Clio is set to ditch pure-petrol engines and go hybrid-only.
Autocar understands that, under the skin, the next Clio is an all-new car rather than a development of the current model, which was introduced in 2019.
However, it is likely to use an upgraded version of that car's CMF-B platform aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs.
​ The new Clio will be powered by an evolution of the existing E-Tech hybrid powertrain , in which an atmospheric four-cylinder engine and two electric motors put out a combined 143bhp and 151lb ft.
This is set to become the sole powertrain option, in part because of stringent fleet emissions targets being rolled out across the European Union. From next year, car manufacturers in the EU will be required to hit an average of 93.6g/km of CO2, down from 95g/km this year.
This incentivises manufacturers to drop powertrains that do not feature electrical assistance, such as the current Clio's TCe 90 turbocharged three-pot, due to their higher carbon emissions.
For reference, the TCe 90 puts out 120g/km, whereas the E-Tech is rated at 96g/km, a reduction of 20%.
Axing the pure-petrol engine would therefore provide a significant cut to Renault's fleet average – crucial, given the EU's fleet emissions targets will only become stricter in the coming years, hitting 49.5g/km in 2030.
Autocar understands that Renault has now decided not to offer the new Clio with a battery-electric powertrain, however.
It is therefore possible that it may not be offered in the UK, due to the new Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate.
This requires brands to sell an increasing proportion of electric cars, starting at 24% of total sales this year and ramping up to 80% in 2030.
Limiting the number of combustion-engined cars that manufacturers can sell means they will prioritise their most profitable models. Renault will most likely limit – and could even end – Clio sales in the UK because the closely related Captur crossover makes more money from an equivalent number of sales.
Complicating the matter is the cachet that the Clio name holds with buyers in the UK. 'Clio is a brand in itself,' Renault product performance chief Bruno Vanel told Autocar earlier this year. 'In the UK, it is probably as well known as Renault – or even more.'
A decision is unlikely to be made until 2025, given the car is at least a year away from hitting showrooms in Europe.
A spokesperson for Renault declined to comment.
As well as its environmental impact, cost is a key consideration in the development of the new Clio.
Vanel said maintaining the current car's positioning is crucial as the brand introduces a range of new – and more expensive – electric cars to ensure it does not abandon a significant proportion of its customer base.
'We are not moving directly towards 100% electric,' said Vanel. 'We are doing it step by step, to have this transition with hybrid cars so that we remain an affordable brand.'
Renault will lean on monthly payment schemes – such as leasing or PCP finance – to ensure the car is affordable, rather than reducing the overall list price of the car.
'We will try to keep the affordability of the monthly rentals,' Vanel said. 'If you compare the rentals in 2018/2019 to last year [2022], with the improvement of residual values and even with some price increases, I think we experienced quite a good performance there, which kept the affordability safe. '
Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here.
Next
Prev
In partnership with