New 2018 Renault Clio to get revolutionary interior design

[The Ga[M]er.]

Renault’s design boss confirms next-gen Clio will bring big changes in cabin design, plus potential for Hybrid Assist tech

Renault will soon undergo an interior design “revolution”, according to the brand’s head of design Laurens van den Acker. It will begin with the all-new Clio supermini, which will arrive in 2018.

Speaking to Auto Express Van Den Acker confirmed that a new Clio would arrive following the introduction of the Koleos SUV and hot Megane Renaultsport, and will most likely debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. Van den Acker also revealed that the Ford Fiesta rival’s interior would take a big step forward over today’s Clio.

Citing the French brand’s recent designs, including the Kadjar SUVand new Scenic MPV, van den Acker said: “Our customers look at the exterior and go “woah” but then they look at the interior and go “Huh?” 

“We need to make sure our next interiors live up to the standards of the exterior,” he told us. “We have more people [at Renault] working on interiors than ever before, and we are pushing a revolution”. 

 

The next Clio will move towards an exterior design emulating that of the latest Megane, but in a smaller package. The biggest step on will be inside, where van den Acker is promising big jumps in terms of look and feel, with better materials, improved cabin ambience and next-generation tech.

“It used to be that just luxury cars had all of the tech for a long time, but now it will take just one or two years before the latest systems filter down to smaller models,” van den Acker added.

Advances in autonomous safety systems are promised, but the new Clio will also use a much larger and more responsive portrait-style touchscreen. The system will be an evolution of the version found in the new Megane and Koleos. Haptic feedback (where touchscreen users feel a physical ‘click’) and gesture control isn’t being ruled out either for future models. 

2018 Renault Clio: Hybrid Assist tech

The next Renault Clio could also feature mild hybrid tech as seen on the brand’s new Scenic MPV. Speaking to Auto Express at theGeneva Motor Show, Bruno Ancelin – Renault executive vice president, product planning – said: “We want to add electrification that’s affordable. It means we give the customer just enough to deliver low CO2.”

• Best hybrid cars to buy right now

Asked if the more cost-effective Hybrid Assist function from the brand’s new people carrier could feature on the smaller Clio, Ancelin revealed: “Yes, we’ll consider the tech for other cars. It’s not the only initiative to reduce fuel consumption, but it won’t be a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle [PHEV].”

 

EOLAB concept, which hints at the future. The Renault boss also told us: “There’s no need for massive deployment of PHEV tech on small cars, as the price will be too high.” But Ancelin didn’t rule out plug-in powertrains for larger saloons and crossovers, which are heavier.

“Weight reduction is always cheaper compared to a PHEV, as battery price is the biggest barrier,” he said. “But we’ll probably need that [PHEV] in the upper segments, depending on future diesel regulations.”