Renault has decided to give continuity to its successful and popular utility. The Renault Clio will continue to live and will debut a new generation. The new Clio will see the light in the year 2026 and will release important new features to adapt to the new times. Times marked by electrification, connectivity and automation.
In recent times, doubts have been future of the Renault Clio. But, what can cause one of the best-selling cars of the Renault brand to not have continuity in the range? Well, neither more nor less than the process of transition to the electric car that is being experienced in Europe. The successful B-segment utility vehicle must deal with the commitment to sustainable mobility while remaining one of the benchmarks in its competitive category. It is a very ambitious challenge.
The launch in 2024 of the Renault 5 E-Techan exciting new electric car, has only added fuel to the fire. What will become of the Clio once this electric is in dealerships? We bring good news for fans of this model and, ultimately, of subcompact cars with internal combustion engines. There will be a new generation of the Renault Clio.
The sixth generation of the Reanult Clio will be a reality
Renault has been in the position of making a difficult decision. Replace the Clio with the aforementioned electric vehicle or find a way for both models to coexist and, above all, develop a new generation. Finally, the latter option has been chosen, as indicated by the new information echoed by a specialized French media.
Luca de Meo, CEO of the Renault Group, maintains the opinion that the transition to the electric car in Europe is being too fast. A position that other leaders of the great giants of the automotive industry also maintain. Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, is another clear example. The massification of the electric car will take longer than expected despite the strict roadmap promoted by the European Union. A roadmap that, let us remember, establishes the death of the gasoline and diesel car in 2035.
The low number of charging points, added to the increase in raw materials and the global shortage of semiconductors and microchips, has formed a “perfect storm” that hinders this transition. In this context, the promise of erasing the thermal car with a stroke of the pen and betting everything on 100% electric mobility is unsustainable. The leaders of Renault have reached this conclusion and that is why they have decided keep the clio alive.
Video comparison of the hybrid Renault Clio with the Toyota Yaris
Renault Clio 2026, a totally new model or a deep update?
In the summer of 2023, the introduction of a facelift of the current model is planned. A mid-cycle update that will allow the fifth generation Clio to face the rest of its commercial life that lies ahead. This set-up will bring with it, among other novelties, changes in the mechanical offer. After its release Renault will focus its resources on the development of the sixth generation.
It will not be a totally new model. Moreover, internally it is considered a redesign of the Clio 5. To some extent we will be facing a second facelift of the model that we can still find at dealerships. However, it will be a deeper upgrade when compared to a conventional facelift. The platform and the structure will be the same. The outer skin of the body will be redesigned. The interior will also be updated.
The mechanical offer of the Clio 6 will revolve around the 1.2 TCe gasoline engine with and without 48-volt light-hybrid (MHEV) technology. There will also be a bifuel version with adaptation to LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). In addition to a six-speed manual gearbox, this engine can be associated with an EDC dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The new Renault Clio 2026 and HEV technology
Refering to hybrid self-charging variant (HEV), will continue to be available albeit with significant changes. It will go from using a 1.6-liter engine to a 1.8-liter gasoline block. In addition, it will incorporate a new electric motor that is more compact, less expensive to manufacture and more efficient. By the way, there will be no diesel engines.
When will it hit the market? The sixth-generation Clio will be ready to storm European showrooms in 2026.
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