Tom
ClioSport Club Member
EV (s)
Renault Clio sales in the UK have hit the impressive figure of 750,000 after 13 years on sale. Clio is the fastest selling car in Renault’s 102-year history in the UK and last year recorded its highest place yet in the UK best-sellers chart at number five. With the recent launch of the 2004 range including the Clio Renaultsport 182 and dCi 100 the UK’s love affair with this little French fancy continues to go from strength to strength.
The Renault Clio first launched in 1991, replacing the ever-popular Renault 5. The new Clio encompassed all the refinement, specification and ride of a big car in a supermini for the first time. Billed as the ‘little big car’, the public were soon captivated by this chic and stylish new French car helped no doubt by a new advertising campaign featuring a farther and daughter called Nicole and Papa. During the seven years the campaign ran, eight instalments of the advertisements were broadcast culminating in the famous ‘wedding’ episode staring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer which broadcast on May 29th 1998, the launch date of the brand new Clio II.
Millions tuned in find out who Nicole’s mystery groom was and to hear only the third word to be used in seven years "Bob", with some fans even putting up posters saying ‘Don’t do it Nicole’ in the weeks leading up the wedding episode. French actress, Estelle Skornik played the part of Nicole to great success with a 1996 survey finding she was more recognised in the UK than then Prime Minister John Major, Bob Hoskins or Chris Evans! Fans of the long running ad were more than happy to see Nicole eventually not get married at all, leaving Vic Reeves standing at the alter whilst she drove away in the new 1998 Renault Clio with Bob Mortimer.
The success of the Renault Clio was evident, winning European Car of the Year at its launch in 1991 and consistently remaining in the top ten UK sales charts throughout the nineties. With the new shape car came a new, sexier attitude. Stunning French model and actress Hélène Mahieu took to the wheel as the face of Clio declaring to the world with a snap of her tape measure that ‘Size Matters’. The campaign ran for three years and provided the launch pad to one of today’s most recognised phrases, as she purred Va Va Voom from our TV screens with the launch of the sport Clio Renaultsport 172. The Clio 172 redefined the hot hatch for the new century underlining the core Clio feature of driving pleasure which reached even greater heights in 2000 with the launch of the mad mid-engined Clio Renaultsport V6 with 230hp.
In 2001, International footballer Thierry Henry put himself into the driving seat of the new face-lifted Clio, his quest, to find out what the meaning of Va Va Voom actually is. Cool, funky, young and fresh, the suave and sophisticated Frenchman showed that Clio appeals to all ages and both sexes, especially the sporty versions. The latest ad, airing currently, was filmed in an ultra hip jazz club and showcases the new Clio Renaultsport 182 with its VVT engine.
The launch of Clio Generation 2004 meant the addition of two other new versions to the Clio family in addition to the Clio Renaultsport 182. The Clio 1.5 dCi 100hp, the first sporty diesel engined Clio and the Clio Renaultsport V6 255, a freshly updated version of the amazing two seater mid-engined Clio.
The Clio Renaultsport 182 is the UKs most powerful and fastest front wheel drive supermini at 182 hp and 0-62mph in 7.1 seconds. Its on sale now at £14,613, and it has upheld Renault’s reputation of producing great driver’s car with the Press hailing it as the ultimate hot hatch. Four new exterior colours have been introduced; metallic colours Titanium, Black Gold, Artic Blue and the non-metallic Racing Blue. If you want to add an unusual touch to your Clio Renaultsport 182 and make it that little but more different, the Racing Blue colour also has the option of White Competition stripes at £295 which pay homage to the Renault Gordini racing cars of the 1960s.
Clio 1.5 dCi 100hp is Renaults first diesel warm hatch and offers 25 % more power and 12% more torque at lower revs than the 80hp engine it is based upon, but with an economy of 66 mpg and CO2 emissions of only 113g/km. The 100 hp 1.5 dCi engine is on sale now and available on Dynamique, Privilège and Initiale models.
The rest of the Clio line up has also had several revisions including new front-end styling, new interior treatments, instruments and equipment, meaning the UK’s favourite French supermini is in good shape as it hurtles towards the million mark.
http://www.press.renault.co.uk/image_gallery/Clio/R_1865-.jpgPic one
http://www.press.renault.co.uk/image_gallery/Clio/R_1866-.jpgPic two
http://www.press.renault.co.uk/image_gallery/Clio/R_1867-.jpgPic three - gwaaaan my son
No more sexy Nicole or the like....
