How R&Go app keeps Clio in tech chase

The current generation of the Renault Clio has been around for three years now, with global sales in excess of 13 million units since launching in 1990.

For the 2016 model year, Renault has refreshed its Clio inside-out with the addition of enhancements and refined F1-inspired engine derivatives.

Starting off with the exterior of the car, the new 2017 Renault Clio gains a reshaped front bumper incorporating full-LED lighting signature (for the Clio Dynamique) and the top grille housing the logo now has a more qualitative design. At the rear, the skirt has also been redesigned to enhance robustness.

At the front, full LED “Pure Vision” headlights fulfil the dual function of dipped and main beam. This technology enhances the vehicle’s appearance and safety by emitting a light that is 20 percent more powerful than a halogen beam at the same time reducing glare.

Step inside the tweaked Clio, you get the same cabin styling and finishes mostly found in top-of-the-range models. The redesigned, leather-clad steering wheel (Dynamique and Expression only) has seen the discarding of the glossy black inserts giving it a more practical look and feel in keeping with the rest of New CLIO’s cabin.

The range comprises F1-inspired engine derivatives which include the flagship Dynamique (66kW Turbo), mid-level Expression (66kW Turbo) and Expression EDC (88kW + EDC) models which come fitted with the same 7″ Touchscreen MediaNav® multi-media/navigation system as default.

The base-level Authentique (66kW Turbo) sees the introduction of the new R&GO® system with Smartphone Cradle.

R&Go®

Offered exclusive to the new Clio Authentique, the R&Go® new application enables a closer mix between the smartphone and the car itself.

Simple-to-use, smart, portable and developed to enhance the driving experience, R&Go® is a smartphone/tablet multifunction application with an automotive human machine interface (HMI) that adds functionalities to the vehicle.

Connected to the car through the radio using Bluetooth®, the radio is connected to the Controller Area Network (CAN) and can be controlled by the application.  With the smartphone placed in the universal cradle which is affixed to the dashboard, users can easily and intuitively access the car’s most frequently employed functions.

The R&Go® app has been split into four different areas:

Multimedia:

• Controls radio, sound and smartphone music
• Selects and manages other audio media (from USB / iPod for example)
• Identifies songs from radio while playing

Phone:

• Manages phone (dial a number, call a contact, history of calls)
• Manages contacts/agenda (retrieving info from phone)

Vehicle:

• Facilitates ECO driving (global score, distance travelled, rate for acceleration/anticipation/gear change for example)
• Dashboard (displays rpm, fuel consumption, vehicle/trip-relation information (speed, distance) and outside temperature
• Vehicle e-guide

Navigation:

• Car finder: save vehicle’s last position and display pedestrian route to reach it
• Choice of navigation applications: Google maps, Apple plan, Waze etc.
• Last mile navigation: portable pedestrian nav to reach final destination
• CoPilot navigation: Free for 15 days; available thereafter through in app purchase

Engine derivatives’ specifications

The 3-cylinder 66kW petrol Turbo engine powering both the New Clio Dynamique, Expression and Authentique models delivers 66kW @ 5 250 rpm, mated with a manual 5-speed gearbox, it delivers peak torque of 140Nm at 2 500 rpm.

A sprint from 0 – 100km/h is achieved in 12.9 seconds before hitting an electronic limiter at 178 km/h.

88kW Turbo Petrol Engine + EDC: Strength and performance

Power from the New Clio Expression EDC comes from a 1.2 litre, 4-cylinder petrol Turbo engine which whips an output of 88kW @ 4 900rpm and peak torque of 190Nm @ 2 000rpm, paired with a 6-speed EDC auto gearbox.  A brisk 9.4 seconds from 0 to 100km/h all to a top speed of 199km/h.

Warranty and service plan

As with Renault’s entire range, New Clio models come standard with a 5-year/150 000km mechanical warranty, a 3-year/45 000km service plan and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty. Services are at 15 000km intervals.

RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICING:

• New Clio66kW TURBO Authentique 5dr with 5-speed manual gearbox        R  206 900
• New Clio 66kW TURBO Expression 5dr with 5-speed manual gearbox           R  226 900
• New Clio 66kW TURBO Dynamique 5dr with 5-speed manual gearbox          R  244 900
• New Clio 88kW TURBO EDC Expression 5dr                                                        R  264 900