By: IOL Motoring Staff
If, like many, you feel that the current generation Renault Clio has a rather attractive smile, you'll be pleased that those charged with facelifting the little hatch chose easy evolution over revolutionary rethink.
That said, the front bumper has been completely redesigned but the most noticeable changes are lower down, where a C-shaped air intake and foglight housing lend a more muscular appearance. The headlights retain their familiar shape, but fancier models gain C-shaped daylight running lights and you can C that theme repeating itself in the new taillight innards.
New body colours and wheel designs round off the exterior changes while the subtle evolution continues inside with fresh upholsteries across the board and revised textures and trims throughout the cabin aiming to impart a more upmarket look and feel. The central air vents, for instance, are now framed by chrome.
The only news on the engine front is a new 81kW 1.5-litre dCi turbodiesel engine. The petrol engine range, consisting of 70kW 0.9-litre and 88kW 1.2-litre turbopetrols, carries over as before, but the latter is now available with a six-speed manual gearbox for the first time.
The new Clio is expected to reach South African shores towards the end of this year and local specifics will be confirmed closer to launch.