The Clio 16S In March 1991, less than a year after its introduction, the Clio range expanded with a sports version, the 16S. This in turn took over from the Renault 5 GT Turbo. With its 1,8-liter 140 hp engine, flawless handling and breathtaking looks, this version shot straight to stardom.
In the automotive world, new models sway with their modern technologies and flashy designs, but for classic enthusiasts, it's the soul and character of a car that counts. Strangely enough, the Renault Clio, a model that you might not immediately label as 'classic', has exactly those timeless qualities that connoisseurs appreciate so much.
From subcompact to icon
When Renault introduced the Clio in 1990 as the successor to the Renault 5, no one could have predicted just how iconic this little Frenchie would become. Over the years, the Clio has done much more than just transform the city car market; it has become a car that has connected generations. The older models, especially the Renault Clio Williams and the Renault Clio V6, enjoy cult status and are now beginning to become sought-after objects for collectors and classic car enthusiasts.
No frills, that saves
What makes the Renault Clio so attractive to classic enthusiasts is its uncomplicated character. The simple lines, the lack of superfluous gadgets, and the pure driving experience make older Clio models a kind of 'honest' car. It's that authenticity that makes the Clio a likely candidate to become a recognized classic.
The magic of the simple
The Renault Clio had to be accessible yet high-quality, modest yet stylish. Many classic car enthusiasts can appreciate this, as they themselves seek the magic of simplicity and functionality in cars.
A place in the garage and in the heart
The older models of the Clio are starting to get a permanent place in the garages of classic and young timer enthusiasts. In addition to technical reliability, the Renault Clio has something indefinable, something enthusiasts often describe as 'soul'. It's that soul that not only gives the car a place alongside other classics, but also a special place in the hearts of their owners.
The future of the Renault Clio as a classic
With the arrival of the refreshed Renault Clio V, one might wonder how this modern incarnation fits into the Clio's rich heritage as a potential classic. One thing is certain, the original features that made the Clio so beloved are still there. But will it ever become a classic?
Photos: Renault SAS
The very first Renault Clio In 1990, the Clio took over from the Renault 5. It was placed higher in the range and turned the city car segment upside down. It also rocketed to the top of the sales rankings in France and was named Car of the Year in Europe in 1991.The RenaultClio Baccara In 1991, the Clio got a chic sister in the form of the Baccara, just like the Supercinq before it. The interior featured leather and wood trims, and was equipped with top-of-the-line equipment and a 92 horsepower engine. This version was renamed Initiale in 1997.The Renault Clio S In 1992, anyone could buy a car with a sporty edge. The Clio S was Renault's smooth and affordable version of their city car star. It had the same 1.4 Energy engine, but with a modified gearbox for quicker gear changes and higher revs, making the car roar.The Renault Clio Williams The iconic Clio Williams model appeared in 1993. This car was named after the Williams-Renault team that raced in Formula 1 and wrote sports car history in one fell swoop. Its pearl Sport Blue color, gold Speedline rims, 150 hp engine and reinforced suspension made it the compact sports car everyone dreamed of at the time.Unforgettable limited editions Chipie, Be Bop, MTV, Oasis, Night & Day and Aida are just some of the special editions that have enriched the Clio I offering – and most of them are remembered to this day. Shown here is the Renault Clio Be Bop, which came standard with a car radio.The Renault Clio Electric Renault was already a pioneer in electric vehicles in 1995 when it introduced an electric Clio with a range of 80 to 100 km. Like the internal combustion engine Clio, it had four full seats, stylish upholstery and the most up-to-date equipment. Charging took 8 hours and could be done from any standard household power outlet.The Renault Clio Maxi The Clio took the rally circuits by storm and soon began to impress in national championships with the Groupe A version. The Clio Maxi (shown here with the late Philippe Bugalski at the wheel) began competing in the Kit-Car category in 1995.The Renault Clio II The second generation of the Clio, introduced in 1998, was larger and rounder and therefore more spacious. The full range included a suitable Clio for everyone's needs. Sports car enthusiasts particularly liked the Clio RS and Clio V6.The Clio Symbol In some markets where customers are fond of sedans, Renault built a Clio with a trunk at the rear. The first in this series, the Clio Symbol, appeared in 1999. Soon the model dropped the name “Clio” and kept only the name “Symbol” (or “Thalia” in some countries). After renewals in 2008 and 2012, the model was replaced by the Taliant in 2021.The Renault Clio V6 You can't ignore the wider wheel arches, and you have to think of the R5 Turbo when you see them. Renault Sport invented the Clio V6 in 2000, equipped it with 230 hp and placed the engine behind the driver. This version is now a collector's itemThe Renault Clio III The third generation Clio came out in 2005 and moved further up the range with an extensive range of equipment and 5 stars in the Euro NCAP crash test. These achievements earned the Clio another Car of the Year award.The Renault Clio Grand Tour Concept The Clio Grand Tour concept car, released in 2007, presaged the Clio III Estate to be released the following year. A similar version was later also available for the Clio IV.The Renault Clio IV The fourth generation Clio was inspired by the DeZir concept car and reached dealers in 2012. It was the first car to feature Renault's new visual branding, was customizable and included an Estate version for families .The Renault Clio Mio The Clio Mio was specially made for the Latin American market and was based on the 2012 Clio II. The model was in production for four years and almost 550.000 units were sold!
If you like the article, please share it...
8 comments
My father always says that he realized he was getting older when cars whose introduction he could still remember became classics... Well, in 1990 I was 19 ;-). A few years later, a friend of mine had a Clio16V that was used as a fire brigade and another friend had a Super 5 Turbo from the last year of construction. They ran about the same speed (less weight vs. more power). I drove one myself Alfa Giulietta 2ltr from 84 (lower budget) but those were good times.
Thom
My father bought one in 1991 on the AutoRai. A red 1.4 three-door. I think it's an RN or an RL, the second barest version. I was in complete shock, because I don't think he had any intention of buying anything there. We went there to get our bearings. His AX 14 TZS was 2 years old and he wanted something different. The Clio was purchased without consulting my mother. And since I now spend Saturdays and holidays at the Citroëndealer worked as a salesman, that was quite a blow…. My idea was to sell him a facelifted AX.
Unfortunately, my father and the Clio seats were not a match, he always had back pain in that car.
After two years the Clio was retired again. This time for one Citroën ZX Aura 1.8. Bought from my employer, of course. He has the rest of his life Citroën driven.
Just good cars those Clios. Even the Clio I can still be seen on the highways. But the first years of construction are now rare.
Great as a city car, but it also does well on the main road. Stylish, fun and sporty something for everyone. And good quality too. No wonder the Clio continues to be popular and has always been one of the best-selling cars in Europe.
Timeless is something that Germans can learn a lot from. After 1 month already looking forward to the unimaginative. Fortunately, every now and then they employ a Frenchman, Italian or Dutchman…..
Nice cars! But I can't imagine it could be anything like the r4 or 5. Anonymous Appearance. Think 205, polo and all. It was a boring time.
Very nice that attention is paid to a car that is rather quickly forgotten, with many interesting versions. Still, for me, the first generation Twingo is a guaranteed future classic, of which you should actually collect the special editions now. The scrapyards are still full of (special) parts. Ideal for getting into the hobby.
First generation indeed beautiful, but still loses out to the facelift of the Peugeot 106, both driving and aesthetically.
The first generation always looks the best, the next generation(s) always become ugly monstrosities for some reason.
Same with the Twingo, Ford Ka, Opel Corsa etc… the first generation is always the most attractive
We use technologies such as cookies to store and/or access information about your device. We do this with the aim of providing the best experience and showing personalized and non-personalized advertisements. Agreeing to these technologies allows us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. If you do not give consent or withdraw your consent, this may adversely affect certain functions and options.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service expressly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access used solely for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access used solely for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance by your Internet Service Provider, or additional data from a third party, information stored or retrieved solely for this purpose cannot normally be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is necessary to create user profiles for sending advertising, or to track the user across a site or across sites for similar marketing purposes.
My father always says that he realized he was getting older when cars whose introduction he could still remember became classics... Well, in 1990 I was 19 ;-). A few years later, a friend of mine had a Clio16V that was used as a fire brigade and another friend had a Super 5 Turbo from the last year of construction. They ran about the same speed (less weight vs. more power). I drove one myself Alfa Giulietta 2ltr from 84 (lower budget) but those were good times.
Thom
My father bought one in 1991 on the AutoRai. A red 1.4 three-door. I think it's an RN or an RL, the second barest version. I was in complete shock, because I don't think he had any intention of buying anything there. We went there to get our bearings. His AX 14 TZS was 2 years old and he wanted something different. The Clio was purchased without consulting my mother. And since I now spend Saturdays and holidays at the Citroëndealer worked as a salesman, that was quite a blow…. My idea was to sell him a facelifted AX.
Unfortunately, my father and the Clio seats were not a match, he always had back pain in that car.
After two years the Clio was retired again. This time for one Citroën ZX Aura 1.8. Bought from my employer, of course. He has the rest of his life Citroën driven.
Just good cars those Clios. Even the Clio I can still be seen on the highways. But the first years of construction are now rare.
Great as a city car, but it also does well on the main road. Stylish, fun and sporty something for everyone. And good quality too. No wonder the Clio continues to be popular and has always been one of the best-selling cars in Europe.
Timeless is something that Germans can learn a lot from. After 1 month already looking forward to the unimaginative. Fortunately, every now and then they employ a Frenchman, Italian or Dutchman…..
Nice cars! But I can't imagine it could be anything like the r4 or 5. Anonymous Appearance. Think 205, polo and all. It was a boring time.
Very nice that attention is paid to a car that is rather quickly forgotten, with many interesting versions. Still, for me, the first generation Twingo is a guaranteed future classic, of which you should actually collect the special editions now. The scrapyards are still full of (special) parts. Ideal for getting into the hobby.
First generation indeed beautiful, but still loses out to the facelift of the Peugeot 106, both driving and aesthetically.
The first generation always looks the best, the next generation(s) always become ugly monstrosities for some reason.
Same with the Twingo, Ford Ka, Opel Corsa etc… the first generation is always the most attractive