Renault Clio/Lutecia IV Estate

2013 Renault Clio Estate

Couple of months has passed since the Renault Clio/Lutecia IV has arrived in the European market and I am starting to think this is the better looking Clio to date not only because it comes with Renault's new corporate look but it's because of the tech-savvy features including the Renault R-Link feature that lets me connect to music, navigation, and other points of interests I'm particularly interested in. For this new model, the new Clio targets the Astra, the Golf, the new Seat Leon, and other hatchbacks from its category and with the starter price of just 13,700 Euros, this new model is a bargain of its own right.

Come to think of it, there are some customers who want to put something more at the but, say a kayak or some camping equipment or tons of grocery shopping or any other heavy duty stuff to consider, seems that the new Clio IV's boot space just wasn't enough. Also, what if they need something a bit family-oriented, something that brings a typical French family to an average weekend trip to grandma's house or a knick-knack shop or a bungalow or any other destination the dad might consider? Well, there's an additional variant you might be interested in...the Estate version...

Even though it's a sports wagon version of the highly addictive Renault Clio IV it still comes with the tech-savvy features, especially the Renault R-Link feature for some connectivity pleasures for the driver who loves the techie in himself. This is just like when the kid-in-himself likes a delicious bowl of cereal while the grown up-in-himself likes the kid-in himself. Need to state the point again? Ahem, "the kid-in-me likes this bowl of cereal but the grown-up-in-me likes the kid-in-me". He he he he....

Besides, engine choices from the hatchback version carried on to the estate version, meaning I can expect a 0.9 12v Energy TCe, a 1.2 16V 75, a 1.5 8v dCi 75, or a 1.5 8v Energy dCi 90 engine, all being mated with a standard 5-speed manual transmission, which sounds to be desperate for a family-friendly station wagon version of a Clio.

Anyway, about the Estate version, this model's thirty percent bigger than the already much-roomy hatchback model and the sill has been made significally lower. With the combination of both the cargo area's flat floor and the foldable front passenger seat, the Clio IV Estate has a good load length, more than enough to carry a kayak or some camping equipment or tons of grocery shopping or any other heavy duty stuff to consider. I mean, not only this was made for the average French family but, it's made for those who really want to experience the great outdoors or even a Spring Break if you have buddies coming with you.

I mean yes, this new Clio Estate is a versatile and practical car for the Traveler's Tales, a car only someone who has a taste of poetry, art, and science can be seduced by such beauty of the new Clio's overall design. Sure, the hatchback's design of the Clio/Lutecia IV is a winner for me but the station wagon's look need to be a bit more sophisticated than its new and upcoming rivals from the block. It's an affordable car with some inner fancy living that tickles your fancy but still, I would rather wait for the upcoming Renaultsport Clio 200 because this kid ain't BOVVERED! Is it bovvered? Is it bovvered, though? Look at its face! Is this face bovvered? Face? Bovvered? It ain't BOVVERED! He he he....

Photo: Renault

Renaultsport Clio III Phase One gets life anew by Cam Shaft

Cam Shaft Clio RS

What you're looking here is an old, third generation, Phase I, Renault Clio but it has been modified by Cam Sport. An old Clio has been spiced up a bit with something matte, something green vinyl, and something green rims that made it more sleeker and sexier and every angle but sometimes it is a bit nasty.

Power output is now 225PS thanks to some optimization on the car's computers, K&N Sports Air Filter, and Supersprint 100-cell sport catalysts and exhausts. Also, the brakes used on this modified Renault Clio was been derived from the hot Megane.

Scoop: http://www.auto-news.de/tuning/anzeige_Cam-Shaft-powert-den-Renault-Clio-R.S._id_33095

Renault Clio/Lutecia IV

2013 Renault Clio (Lutecia)

If I can only have a drink for the rest of my life, I want an orange juice. If I want to drive a French-made hatchback, it would be this...the Renault Clio (or Lutecia (ルノ・ルーテシア) if you're Japanese).

For over two decades, the Renault Clio is the pinnacle of the Renault lineup, making it one of Europe's top-selling cars since its launch. In case you're wondering, this is the only car that became European Car of the Year twice, in 1991 and in 2006. No other car comes close.

Although, we kinda felt disappointed that we won't be seeing either a Williams (1993-1996) or our favorite mid-engined V6 (2000 - 2005), the Clio made some stunning results from the past when treated with such outrageous results and for this new fourth-generation Clio (Lutecia), this has gone up the world.

2013 Renault Clio (Lutecia)

To further explain about this latest incarnation, I want you to imagine a simple scene down a family restaurant. Imagine there's Ritsuko and Donna having a chat. And then...Ritsuko's had enough with Donna's chatting so she gets up, she takes her outside, and Ritsuko gives Donna a bloody good hiding. That's exactly what the Clio or Lutecia did. The best supermini, according to Automóvil Panamericano, has now been regenerated to take on the likes of the VW Golf, Toyota Auris, Peugeot 308, Mazda Axela, Citroen DS4, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, and others.

The new model is...kinda look like Ritsuko Akizuki in Donna Noble's outfit but I think it looks absolutely stunning. It's better than the previous third generation Clio/Lutecia that I drove before at a video game I currently have. Aside from its new DeZir-styled nose that became the new design DNA for Renault, there is a huge change for this new generation Clio/Lutecia and wanna guess that is? There is no three-door variant! That's right! Beginning with the fourth-generation Clio, they won't be offering a 3-door Clio and NEVER WILL BE. I know this is weird and next year's RenaultSport Clio RS is now a 5-door hot hatch instead of three but why? Nobody knows why...

2013 Renault Clio (Lutecia) interior

Apart that the new Clio (Lutecia) IV now has secret rear doors just like the DS4 and the Giulietta, the interior's getting a bit well behaved and well mannered but not much of it when you look at it. What satisfies me is the new Renault R-Link telematics system which acts more like an Android smartphone and best of all, you can buy apps for the R-Link as well! It is as clever as a Samsung Galaxy Note and less complicating than the Peugeot 208's touch screen and you can't really explain why. When top-of-the-line Clio models are equipped with the R-Link, it gets even more addicting than ever because this is a million times better than other Renaults wearing its Carminarat Tomtom navi that makes no sense whatsoever.

What's new here is a world's first. It's called Renault Bass Reflex system, and it delivers the volume and listening enjoyment of a 30-litre home speaker enclosure. This has more BASS than any other car's speakers and it was based on the use of vents - or ports - in the enclosure. Sounds clever and I love that way...

2013 Renault Clio (Lutecia)

It is as clever as Ritsuko Akizuki in Donna Noble's outfit, and as sexy as a female lifeguard from Baywatch. With the introduction of Renault's brand new energy TCe 90 and TCe 120 EDC petrol engines as well as the brand new energy dCi 90 diesel engine, it is a lot more economical without the compromise. And if you were wondering what's EDC, well Renault now made a six-speed EDC dual clutch automatic transmission that shifts faster with a bit more feel. The first clutch handles 1st, 3rd, and 5th, while the second clutch handles the 2nd, 4th, and 6th. For example, you're in 3rd gear and the second clutch is preparing 4th. When you shift it to 4th, the 5th gear has been pre-selected by the second clutch and when shift it to 5th, the 6th gear's been prepared at the second clutch. That is very simple and very clever. I like that. No wonder that the next year's Renaultsport Clio 200 ditched the manual in favor of the double clutch transmission...

Amazingly, the suspension system has been reworked to make it more agile and more comfortable and with the optimised calibration of the electrically-assisted power steering, you can feel the driving force within the new Clio. Renault really know how to make the best better and hey, this is the perfect car for some 19-year old woman who works as a producer at some talent agency. Oh, don't mate with this, sunshine! You know that the new Clio not only made by the French but by Turkish! Yes! France and Turkey were the only countries to made the Clio IV and that's it.

This car is always in the tune of "Call Me Maybe" and with such improvements, not to mention the downside that is cheap materials and poor rear visibility, the Clio (Lutecia) IV is starting to win my trust. So loyal, I can now forget the DS4 and the Giulietta. If I want a European hatchback with the combination of style and functional, this is my pick. I love it.

Available Colors: Brun Ardent, Gris Cassiopee, Gris Platine, Noir Etoile, Rouge Flamme, Blanc Glacier, Jaune eclair, and Bleu de France.

PRICE LIST:

Authentique 1.2 16V 75 - 13 700,00 € TTC

Authentique dCi 75 eco2 - 16 000,00 € TTC

Expression 1.2 16V 75 - 15 700,00 € TTC

Expression Energy TCe 90 eco2 - 16 900,00 € TTC

Expression Energy TCe 90 eco2 99g  - 17 100,00 € TTC

Expression dCi 75 eco2 - 17 800,00 € TTC

Expression Energy dCi 90 eco2 90g - 18 800,00 € TTC

Expression Energy dCi 90 eco2 83g - 19 000,00 € TTC

Dynamique Energy TCe 90 eco2 - 18 000,00 € TTC

Dynamique dCi 75 eco2 - 18 900,00 € TTC

Dynamique Energy dCi 90 eco2 90g - 19 900,00 € TTC

Business dCi 75 eco2 - 18 000,00 € TTC

Business Energy dCi 90 eco2 90g - 19 000,00 € TTC

Business Energy dCi 90 eco2 83g - 19 200,00 € TTC

Photo: Renault

Next Renaultsport Clio/Lutecia will not have a manual :-(

It appears that we have another victim on the list of cars that won't be having manuals. I can't believe that manual transmissions will end up being consigned at the history books.

2013 Renault Clio

According to evo magazine, the upcoming 2014 Renaultsport Clio (Lutecia) k4, which is the sportier version of the 2013 Renault Clio (Lutecia) Mk4, will ditch the manual transmission in favor of the six-speed twin-clutch transmission (with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters). Yep, stick-shifting fans, this is bad news to you.

On the lighter side, the next Renaultsport Clio Mk4 will have an MR16DDT sourced from the Nissan Juke 16GT.

Scoop: http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/285616/new_renaultsport_clio_no_manual_gearbox.html

James May's absolutely useless! But the Renaultsport Clio III Phase II isn't!

Autocar, the magazine that fired James May in the past, once said that by pound for pound, the Renaultsport Clio (known in Japan as the Renaultsport Lutecia) is the most exciting car on sale. As I'm sure, I saw this one on a Top Gear episode where the presenters and their hot hatchbacks are placed to the test from the labyrinth of Lucca, Italy, to the Monaco Cote D'Azur. On the Monaco part, it was been proven that Jeremy Clarkson and his Citroen DS3 Racing is 5 seconds faster than the idiots Richard Hammond with his Fiat 500C Abarth Esseesse and James May in his Renault Clio III Renaultsport 200 Cup. That's just the beginning.

With those three hot hatchbacks featured on Clarkson's DVD titled "Clarkson: Powered Up", Jeremy Clarkson enlisted Lotus F1 driver, Karun Chandhok, to find out which of these three hot hatchbacks is the fastest at some part of the Paul Ricard Test Circuit. As proven, The Fiat 500C Abarth Esseesse was the slowest of the three and the fastest of the three? Nope, it's not the Citroen DS3 Racing. It's James May's Renaultsport Clio. Despite that this is the only non-turbo hot hatch of the three, this is the fastest of the three. James May's absolutely useless!

Oh look! James May's here in his driving instructor's car!

So, this is the fastest of the three. As a response from many Forza Faithfuls who are part-time Top Gear fans, the Renaultsport Clio III Phase II was featured on Forza Motorsport 4 via the March Pirelli Pack, now on sale. Although, it is difficult to say that how did that dopey old idiot was doing because this even feels fast. The little Abarth 500 is all about style and the Citroen DS3 is like a spongecake. Very soft and very comfortable but for the Renaultsport Clio 200? This does none of these things...

The Renaultsport Clio's too noisy at 70MPH in 4th Gear!

This car is better than the pre-facelifted model I have on the game, the 2007 Renault Clio 197. Not only that, it's lighter as well because while the 2007 Renault Clio 197 weighs 2,778lbs, the 2010 Renault Clio RS weighs about 2,654lbs. From the looks of it, it has a Formula One style front splitter for enhanced aerodynamics. The 0-60 time is the same, which in fact both the old and the new can do 6.9 seconds, but the Power/Weight ratio is what matters. With the old Clio RS 197 has 158.88BHP/tonne, the Clio RS 200 has 161.34BHP/tonne.

With the Cup chassis, it's stiffer and lighter, providing some nimble agility and lowered height. In reality, a standard Clio Renaultsport 200 Cup has no airconditioning and no navigation. What that moron had on Top Gear has an aircon as a maker option. Heh, that's James May's problem right now...

I bet most of these are optional...

If you watched Clarkson Powered Up DVD, you should realize that the Renaultsport Clio's a bit too noisy while it was cruising on 70MPH in 4th gear. That is bad for the economy, bad for emissions, and bad for the ears. Jeremy Clarkson's ears hate this car!

Although Autocar claims that the Renaultsport Clio is by pound for pound, the most exciting car on sale, it wasn't enough but that's okay though. I am getting a hang on this car. Although it is not turbocharged, this is somewhat nimble, stiffer, quicker, and above all, bonkers to drive. Perhaps this should have been five seconds quicker than Hammond's Abarth and Clarkson's Citroen. Never mind, what matters is that I'm happy to have that Clio. Now what I don't want to do is catching someone who's reading James May's Man Lab Book of Usefulness.

Renaultsport Clio in ANGELS & DEMONS

2012 Renault Clio RS Ange & Demon

Sorry, this isn't about a movie titled "ANGELS & DEMONS". We're talking about a special edition Renaultsport Clio (Renaultsport Lutecia in Japan) called "Ange & Demon" which translates to "ANGEL AND DEMON" and its available only in 666 units across Europe but in the United Kingdom, this will be called the Renaultsport Clio Raider and its limited to 50 units.

This special edition features three matte colors such as Toro Red, Giver Nacre, and Hologramme Grey, all of which feature a gloss black finish at the top, upper tailgate, rear spoiler, rear diffuser, F1-style blade in the front bumper, door handles, exterior door mirrors.

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/09/color-me-matte-new-renault-clio-rs-200.html

Verdict: This is how the Renaultsport Clio comes to the Vatican in search of the Illuminati conspiracy just like the ANGELS & DEMONS movie. 

Limited-edition, Japan-only, Renault Sport Clio (Lutecia) marks the end...

2011 Renault Lutecia Sport Complete (J)

It's been great that the Renault Sport Clio (Lutecia in Japan) was been the most enjoyable Renault hot hatch ever made. This car may be sold in other countries but in Japan, this is the climax.

For that, Renault Japon offered a special edition called the Renault Sport Lutecia Complete and its limited to just 30 units. This special edition doesn't seem to be special, especially when the interior comes with the RS monitor (found on the Renault Sport Megane).

Why call it Complete? European countries still sold the Renault Sport Clio but why try to end its Japanese sales of the Renault Sport Lutecia? Is it because it will give way to the Japan launch of the new Renault Sport Megane?

Source (Japanese only):

http://news.kakaku.com/prdnews/cd=kuruma/ctcd=7010/id=13701/

Renault Clio/Lutecia III Range Phase Two and Clio/Lutecia GT

The Renault Clio (known in Japan as the Lutecia) was known to be a trendy hot hatch in the 21st century since the arrival of its third generation back in 2006. In 2009, the Renault Clio line-up (from the regular, the spacious Estate, and the sporty Renault Sport) received a mid-life minor change for the first time and its minor change welcomes a new addition to the Clio line-up, the Clio GT.



The revised Clio III received Renault's trademark design as seen on the Renault Megane III, distinguished to show its true Renault side from the outside to the inside. The look of the normal Clio seems to be as bland as an old Twingo, while the Clio Estate remains true to its colors. Both the Clio GT and the Renault Sport Clio has testosterones aplenty because of its aggressive design, aggressive performance, and packs a sporty interior suited for the hardcore car enthusiasts.

There are a wide variety of engine options available for the Clio such as the entry-level 1.2L 16-valve engine, 1.6L 16-valve engine, and the RS-only 2.0L 16-valve engine. There is also a wide selection of dCi engines with Renault Eco2, making the Clio a well-balanced eco-compact.

My thoughts about the Clio:
Even without the V6 engine as seen on the second-generation Clio, we still enjoy plenty of fun time at the French streets with the Clio GT and Clio Renault Sport, but for true eco-car enthusiasts, both the regular Clio (in 3-door and 5-door) and the Clio Estate are strong recommendations because of the dCi diesel engines. These different Clio variants does not make any sense at first but as the enjoyment levels up, the Phase Two of the Clio III would be rather be an enjoyable French compact car for those living in Europe. Still, this is a sure thing for car enthusiasts to have fun with the Clio no matter what variant they are.