2012 Renault Clio Designs Leak

2011 Renault Clio Design Image

Early leak of next-generation Clio hints at bold, distinct design for the volume hatch

By Alex Ricciuti
April 23, 2009 2:51 PM
Filed Under: Artist Renderings, Design, European, Leaks, Renault

The next-generation Renault Clio is still a long way off, expected in 2011 or perhaps even later. No spy shots have emerged yet which tells us that either Renault is very good at cloaking its product development or, more likely, there still isn't a next-gen Clio prototype out there doing any testing.

But we do have this design leak now and can gleam from it some ideas about where Renault is going with the Clio design. This is certainly a more curvaceous Clio where even the headlights have an arc line as they wrap around the top front corner of the car. The back end isn't the 50s bombshell-boogie-butt of the old Megane design (thankfully) but it's a more refined fleshiness that still favors lower wiggle over hefty shoulders with the C-pillars looking rather thin in comparison to the muscle of the hatch door.

The latest Clio facelift did come with touches of the design language seen on the new Megane and that can give us further hints about where Renault is going. But Renault isn't BMW or even Opel and French car makers seem to have a penchant for keeping model design a little more individual. And as the Clio competes in one of the biggest and most crowded segments in Europe, you can expect Renault to try to keep the model as distinct as possible.

 

Source: AutoPlus.fr via CSS

Comments

Bristol411S3
April 23, 2009 3:09 PM
I thought I liked it at first glance, but now I am not so sure. The profile shows a very pronounced droop from front to back which I don't like. And whereas I can understand the need to taper the roofline at the back (aerodynamics) it seems to produce an unnaceptably small rear hatch opening and rear window -- these cars are meant to be practical and that would seriously compromise loading and rear visibility/parking, a big mistake for a city car.

BabyMilo
April 23, 2009 3:11 PM
I like it, bu im not to sure about the rear end.

Renegade
April 23, 2009 3:48 PM
Is it me or it looks a bit japanese, maybe a designer from Nissan enter accidentally in a Renault office and draw this.

gorgonzola
April 23, 2009 5:01 PM
Very nice....

Pitty its very fake though...

N20_Purge
April 23, 2009 6:20 PM
+1 Gorgonzola. I like this design idea for originality, but with so many lines for such a small car makes it look fake.

BUT the Fiesta did managed to have such a design too, so.....

911fnatic
April 23, 2009 6:45 PM
Looks more Twingo than Clio to be honest. I see a bit of Mazda 2 in this, particularly the back window line/shape. Anyone else dislike the new Clio? The updates look crap and its nothing new at all really.

9TNine
April 23, 2009 8:06 PM
Yes, the French Magazine L'Autoplus are at it "AGAIN". L'Autoplus first showed this Clio scoop on the 21 April 2009.

http://services.autoplus.fr/sommaire.php (then turn 6 pages - link updates next week when new mag comes out)

"AGAIN"...?

In a WCF article a little while ago, Renault sent their "SS" in to raid the magazines offices because of spy shots of the (now just launched) Renault Megane were shown...

WCF had screwed up in their text as they claimed that Megane wasn't to be launched for a few years time!!! However, it is on sale right now. I rest my case!


Edited by user on April 23, 2009 at 8:13 PM
9TNine
April 23, 2009 8:19 PM
And here is that aformentioned article:

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080718.002/french-mag-auto-plus-raided-for-leaking-renault-new-car-details

May I draw you attention to paragraph #2, namely

"...When Auto Plus published pictures and details of a new model not due to launch for another three years"

that makes is 2012!!!!!!!!

clinton
April 23, 2009 8:44 PM
Renault's official complaint against Auto Plus was filed in August 2007 and the extract which states the model would not be launched for three years refers to this said date and not the date of the article.

It is also worth noting that this article was written long before the model was launched at last year's Paris Motor Show and before any official information had been released. Meaning any information reported should be treated as purely speculative rather than based on fact.

9TNine
April 23, 2009 9:14 PM
I have read your article again. I do not draw the same conclusions as your post above.

gorgonzola
April 24, 2009 12:37 AM
I really like it though :D

alessandro
April 26, 2009 8:27 PM
We see full scale clay model which however don't mean to be approved automatially for production line development. It is serious leak though...


Edited by user on April 26, 2009 at 8:28 PM
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