More than ever, the small car with big car refinements Following the launch of Modus in 2004, Renault continues the renewal of its B-segment range with Clio III. The new car marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Clio success story which began in 1990 and boasts all the necessary features to build on the success of its predecessors. Bigger and roomier, the new car stands out as a benchmark in the small-car category. Its chassis has been engineered to guarantee a level of driving pleasure worthy of higher segments, while fuel efficiency has been optimized thanks to carefully honed aerodynamics. Clio III’s five-star Euro NCAP rating also reassert Renault’s leadership in the domain of safety as the eighth Renault to achieve the maximum rating. Roomy, dynamic, fuel-efficient and safe… Clio III really does have all the refinements of a big car.

renault-clio

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: renault-clio

2005 Renault Clio

Specifications
  • Horsepower: 111@6000
  • Torque: 151@4250
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

The power of seduction

Class-leading roominess and comfort

Both in three- and five-door format, Clio III features exceptional interior space for a vehicle of its length (3.99m). The segment's new benchmark has also taken travelling comfort a step further thanks to the brightness of its cabin interior which reinforces a sensation of roominess previously unseen in this category. The driving position and user-friendly controls contribute to driver enjoyment. A long list of other comfort and safety features are also available, some of which – including the hands-free locking and ignition card – are new in this segment.

Dynamic, positive road-holding performance

Five-star safety

Renault continues the renewal of its small-car range

The small-car segment is a strategic sector for Renault. With a total of five million vehicles, the segment accounts for more than a third of the European market. With Clio III, Modus – launched in 2004 – and Twingo, which continues to be highly successful, Renault is targeting a market share of close to 11% in Europe in 2005. The total renewal of Renault’s small-car line-up – which began with Modus – has led to the establishment of a new manufacturing structure that sees each of its production sites (Flins and Bursa, plus Dieppe for the Renault Sport version) given over to a single type of vehicle. The total programme outlay for Clio III was €953 million, of which €630 million represented production-related investment.






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Body and Driving


The power of seduction

The power of seduction

Clio III breathes dynamism and driving pleasure. With its long wheel base, its very short rear overhang and the robust, shoulder-like forms of its rear wings, Clio III sits squarely on the road. Its spirited personality is underlined by the wide air-intake located low in the bumper. The lines of the grille and the bonnet’s central crease-line converge on the Renault diamond logo, while the lines of the upper air-intakes extend across the tapered form of the headlamps to convey an expression of intensity which is even more dynamic when equipped with tinted headlamp glass* as featured on the Look Pack version. The bonnet, windscreen and roof pillars form a clear-cut, flowing curve. The marked waistline is accentuated by the door handles and extends along each side to the rear light cluster. The design of the doors and rear side window of the three-door version ensures a dynamic silhouette, while the short overhangs and wide tracks exude robustness and stability, even at a standstill. The lines along the side of the body meet at the bottom of the rear window to form a “V” which, along with the elliptical rear lights, give structure to Clio III’s rear design.

Flowing, dynamic lines

  •  15-inch diameter, 165mm or 185mm wide rims trims (according to trim level) or optional alloy wheels,
  •  a 16-inch diameter, 195mm wide rim is available either complete with wheel trim or (optional) in a choice of two alloy wheel designs (one of which is exclusive to the Dynamique trim level). The Initiale version comes with an exclusive type of wheel as standard.

Four trim levels and four equipment levels for à la carte choice

Additional cornering lights for improved night-time vision

Suspenion



Passive/active safety 

+65kg

Material quality/reliability

+32kg

Acoustics

+27kg

Dimensions

+9kg




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Interior


Class-leading roominess and comfort

Class-leading roominess and comfort

A warm, inviting interior

With a length of 3,986mm, an overall width of 1,707mm, a wheelbase of 2,575mm and a height of 1,493mm (58mm higher than Clio II), Clio III features outstanding cabin space and stands out as the new benchmark in the B segment, a distinction which has not resulted in reduced manoeuvrability since the new car’s turning circle between kerbs remains a low 10.30m.


Clio III redefines B-segment standards

Big car refinements

Travelling comfort a priority

Like Modus, Clio III can be ordered with the Carminat Guidance navigation system. This system comes with a matrix display located centrally in the upper part of the dashboard. Destinations are keyed in using the facia-mounted rotary selection knob.

Junctions are displayed with arrows indicating the direction to be taken along with speech synthesis messages. In addition to displaying the car’s precise location in real time, the system also estimates arrival time at destination and indicates the distance remaining to be travelled. The Carminat system includes the radio and CD player functions. A radio with MP3 playback will also be available as an option.

Either standard according to equipment level or  available as an option, Clio III is available with:

  •  parking assist with reversing radar,
  •  a twin function sensor: a rain sensor that controls the windscreen wipers and wiper speed, and a light sensor that
  • automatically switches on the dipped beam headlamps,
  • cruise control and speed limiter, which permit the driver to maintain the car at a constant speed or to pre-set the car’s top speed. The former facility is used principally on trunk roads and motorways while the latter is especially suited to driving in built-up areas or in heavy traffic.

Equipment designed to ease day-to-day life

The Renault hands-free card

Clio III is the segment leader for acoustics. Special care was taken when engineering the body shell with a view to filtering out engine- or transmission-generated noise as well as noise fed back via the suspension.

The tapping sound inherent in diesel engine injection systems has been largely contained thanks to the use of multi-injection technology, while the twin-mass damping flywheel contributes efficiently to reducing engine rumble and boom at low revs which have been further reduced thanks to a rear hatch spring bump stop. The 6-speed gearbox of the 1.5 dCi 105hp and the future 2.0 16V versions enables engine speeds to be brought down in certain situations (e.g. motorway driving) with a view to enhancing acoustic comfort. Special attention has also been paid to engine/cabin soundproofing and to curbing wind noise thanks to the use of inflatable inserts in the hollow sections of the body shell, as well as other techniques.


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Engine


Optimized performance and fuel efficiency

Modern fuel-efficient powertrains



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Safety

Five-star safety

In addition to scoring the maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating, Clio III has  obtained the maximum score of four stars in child protection. Equipped with Renault's third-generation System for Restraint and Protection, Clio III benefits from Renault’s extensive expertise in the field of safety to ensure optimal protection for all occupants.


Five-star safety

Active safety central to Clio III’s development

Front impact

Side impact

Four-star child protection

For the front seats, Clio III innovates with rear impact energy-absorbing seats and headrests. This new technology represents a significant breakthrough in terms of protecting the neck against the effects of whiplash. When adjusting its height, it’s the headrest itself which slides and no longer the rods which were built into the seat back. Since the latter no longer represents a rigid element inside the seat back, the occupant’s back can, under impact, push further back into the seat until his or her head comes into contact with the headrest. The rear bench seat comes with three integrated headrests, while the seat itself and its anchorage points are reinforced with a view to limiting reclining of the seat back under impact.