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Renault Clio: thick 16 million units

As many as 16 million copies of the Renault Clio. That’s impressive. Bumper to bumper, all those Clios would circle the earth no less than 1.6 times. And if you stacked them on top of each other, they would be 75,000 times taller than the Eiffel Tower! Still more than 1,400 units of the Renault Clio are produced every day at the factories in Bursa (Turkey) and Novo Mesto (Slovenia). In fact, in Bursa, a Clio rolls off the assembly line every minute.

Not expensive enough…

But why is the Renault Clio so popular? According to Renault, it was mainly because of its total package and favorable pricing. “It’s not expensive enough, son,” a Clio ad once said. In addition, Renault also provided a wide variety of versions, so that there was a suitable Clio for everyone and every wallet.

The very first Renault Clio

The Clio took over from the Renault 5 in 1990. It was positioned higher in the range and immediately caused a stir in the city car segment. It also shot to the top of the sales rankings in France and was voted “Car of the Year” in Europe in 1991.

Clio 16S 

In March 1991, barely a year after its market introduction, the Clio’s range was expanded to include a sporty version. The 16S was the spiritual successor to the Renault 5 GT Turbo. Thanks to the 1.8 engine with 140 hp and good looks and handling, the Clio 16S became an instant hit.

Clio Baccara

The Clio got a posh brother in 1991 in the form of the Baccara, just like the Supercinq before it. This version had leather and wood fixtures in the interior, premium amenities and a 92-hp engine. Finally, the Baccara was renamed “Initiale” in 1997.

Clio S

In 1992, anyone could buy a car with a sporty edge. The Clio S translated Renault’s spirited and affordable vision for its city car. It had the same 1.4 Energy engine, but with stepped gears for faster clutching and revving to make the car roar nicely.

Clio Williams

The iconic Clio Williams appeared in 1993. Named after the Williams-Renault Formula One team, this version wrote sports car history overnight. Its Pearly Sport Blue color, gold Speedline rims, 150-hp engine and stiffer suspension made it the ultimate, compact sports car of the era.

Memorable limited editions

Chipie, Be Bop, MTV, Oasis, Night & Day and Aida are just some of the special editions released from the first-generation Clio. Most of these are remembered to this day. Pictured here is the Clio Be Bop, which came standard with a car radio.

Clio Electric

Renault was an EV pioneer back in 1995 when it introduced an electric version of the Clio with a range of 80 to 100 kilometers. Like the Clio with an internal combustion engine, it had four full-size seats, stylish upholstery and remarkably modern equipment. The battery could be fully charged in 8 hours from any household outlet.

Clio Maxi

The Clio also took rally circuits by storm with a Groupe A version and stunning performances on macadam in national championships. The Clio Maxi (pictured here with the late Philippe Bugalski behind the wheel) competed in the Kit-Car category beginning in 1995.

Clio II

The second generation of the Renault Clio, introduced in 1998, was larger, rounder and more spacious. The offerings included a suitable version for everyone. Sports car enthusiasts especially loved the Clio R.S. and Clio V6.

Clio Symbol (Thalia, Symbol and Taliant)

For some markets where sedans are very popular, Renault built a four-door Clio with a trunk that protruded at the rear. The first of this series, the Clio Symbol, appeared in 1999. He soon dropped the name “Clio” and went through life as “Symbol” (or “Thalia” in some countries). After renewals in 2008 and 2012, it was replaced by the Taliant in 2021.

Clio V6

Unmissable thanks to its extra-wide wheel arches, it is immediately reminiscent of the R5 Turbo: the Clio V6 launched by Renault Sport in 2000. With its 230-hp engine crammed behind the driver, the Clio V6 has become a coveted collector’s item.

Clio III

The third-generation Clio came out in 2005 and was positioned another rung higher with comprehensive equipment and five Euro NCAP safety stars. It once again earned the Clio the award for “Car of the Year.

Clio Grand Tour Concept

The Renault Clio Grand Tour concept car released in 2007 foreshadowed the Clio III Estate launched the following year. A similar version later became available for the Clio IV.

Clio IV

The fourth-generation Clio was inspired by the DeZir concept car and arrived at dealerships in 2012. It was the first car with Renault’s new, visual brand identity and also came as an estate car.

Clio Mio

Built in 2012 for the Latin American market, the Clio Mio was based on the Clio II. In the four years it was available, nearly 550,000 copies were sold!

Clio V E-Tech Hybrid

The Clio V was electrified in early 2019 with the Clio E-Tech Hybrid. This version features a new interior and various driving assistance systems, including a Level 2 autonomous driving system.