THE Renault Clio, one of Britain's best-loved cars and one of themost iconic small cars ever made, comes of age this year as it turns20.
Throughout its illustrious career, spanning more than twodecades, Clio has become one of the highest-selling superminis ofall time, notching up more than 10 million sales worldwide in morethan 100 countries, including more than a million in the UK alone.
To mark its birthday in suitable style, Renault has launched anupmarket special edition, badged fittingly as Clio '20th'.
It all started 20 years ago when the curvaceous Clio debuted toconsiderable acclaim at the Paris Motor Show in 1990, prior tolaunching in the UK in March 1991.
Being able to match, and even exceed, the phenomenal salessuccess of the Renault 5, the marque's sharply-styled new Clioinstantly won over a demanding public.
Throughout its glittering career, Clio has continued to set newstandards for the supermini class, never more so than now, through acompelling package of affordability, comfort, practicality andstyle.
It has also been at the forefront of safety. In 2000, Clio wasthe first car in its class to secure a maximum four-star Euro NCAPcrash test rating, followed in 2005 with sector-leading five-starstatus.
Of course it would be impossible to chart Clio's success withoutrecalling its award-winning televisions ads, some of which arewidely regarded as the most memorable and successful car advertisingcampaigns ever.
The Nicole and Papa story began on April 1, 1991, coinciding withthe UK Clio launch. Over seven years the father and daughter stoleBritish hearts with their alluring French charm as they dashedaround Paris, Provence and the Alps in their Clios.
At the time, the ad attracted six million viewers more thanCoronation Street and became the most successful car advertisementever.
Fears that Renault would not be able to replicate the same kindof success with future ads proved groundless when the immortalwords, 'Va Va Voom', were uttered for the very first time in 1998.The success of this campaign meant that the now legendary phraseultimately entered the Concise Oxford English Dictionary in 2004.
Of course, none of this would have had quite the same impact hadClio not kept pace with the times. Aside from the multiple awards,multi-award winning advertising campaigns and impressive sales, therange has continued to evolve.
Today, the original three and five-door versions now share thelimelight with the practical and stylish Sport Tourer, while theRenaultsport 200 versions continue to reign supreme in the superminihot hatch category.
Bringing the story right up to date, the latest version to appearon British shores is the eye-catching and sporty new 'S', while a 98gram per kilometre CO2 diesel version launches later this year inkeeping with the brand's environmental stance under its Renaulteco[sup 2] signature.
To celebrate Clio's 20th birthday, Renault has released a fitting20th special edition. On sale in the UK now, the five-door modeloffers a wealth of luxury and style items in keeping with the car'srefined appeal. This Clio is immediately recognisable through itsspecific 20th badging on the B pillars, as well as the gloss blackfinish of its front bumper mouldings, door mirrors and detail on thebody-coloured side mouldings which contrast with the body-colourdoor handles. On Pearl Black versions, these elements are finishedin anthracite grey. They also benefit from stylish 16in Lyria alloywheels and extra tinted rear windows and tailgate.
Clio 20th comes with a choice of four engines, the first three ofwhich come under the Renault eco[sup 2] banner. 1.2 TCe 100, 1.5 dCi86, 1.5 dCi 106 and 1.6 VVT 128. Prices start from just Pounds14,671 on the road.
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