Covid and quarantine delayed the international launch of Renault’s new hybrid line-up, as they have most things this year.
So rather than test eco-friendly versions of Renault Clio and Captur on marble-smooth roads somewhere sunny, Renault was forced to send them to Buckinghamshire, UK.
This is good because their lumpy, cheese-grater roads immediately show up any chassis weaknesses.
Now let’s start with Clio.
What a gem Renault’s Clio is. I’ve said it before but Clio has matured over the last 30 years like a fine wine in a French chateau.
Superb ride-quality, fizzy engines, low driving position and a plush, soft-touch cabin crowned by an upended iPad that warns of speed cameras and flags up fuel prices.
It’s almost as though this car was engineered by an actual person who leads an actual life.
The new E-Tech hybrid is the cherry on top.
The 1.6-litre petrol/electric combo gives you extremely good performance and economy — 140hp and 100km/h — and because the battery charges itself on the move, there’s no faffing about with a plug.
It’s the smoothest transition towards our electric future.
Clio starts in electric, reverses in electric and has a B-mode for stronger regenerative braking. This also means you can drive using only the throttle pedal if you’re good enough at anticipating traffic flow.
Why Renault no longer sells Clio by the boatload in the UK baffles me. I’ll just consider us lucky to still have the petrol Renault Clio range at Group 1 Renault in South Africa.
Article from https://www.thesun.co.uk/
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