Frankfurt Preview: Renault Clio Estate
Click image for gallery
When Renault unveiled the 3-door Clio Grand Tour concept at the last Geneva motor show, the car was openly said to be a preview of a future Renault model. That future model will be shown in Frankfurt, and it is the Clio Estate (Clio Sport Tourer in the UK). The production car grows an extra set of doors to maximize utility and is very conventional looking. Renault has released next to nothing in the way of details, so it looks like we're going to have to wait until closer to the show to learn more. What we can say is that the buffet table that is Europe's compact station wagon market just got one plate heavier.
[Source: Renault]
Gallery: Renault Clio Estate
PRESS RELEASE:
Clio Estate at the Frankfurt Motor Show
Clio Estate will receive its world premiere at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Its design echoes the staple lines of Clio Grand Tour Concept, which was unveiled at the last Geneva Motor Show. Clio Estate is firmly focused on leisure pursuits. It strikes a perfect balance between sleek design with its angled rear screen and spaciousness with the generous volumes of its luggage area (439 liters). At 4.2 metres in length it is a compact vehicle that builds on the strengths of Clio III in terms of driving pleasure, interior space, comfort, and safety.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ligor 8:49AM (8/12/2007)
better than the Versa and Sentra we get here
Nissan needs to work closer with Renault in the small car category
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Mattias 2:45PM (8/12/2007)
The Versa/Tiida actually uses the same platform. Slightly stretched by about 2 1/2 inches.
tanooki2003 12:36PM (8/13/2007)
Currently the new redesigned Sentra is based off a Renault platform. It shares the same platform as the Renault Mégane so technically we do have a Renault'ish car here in North America.
94 taurus owner 5:41AM (8/13/2007)
that's cool nissan should bring that over here instead of the cube.
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stefan 10:02AM (8/12/2007)
@Ligor
Working close together with renault made de versa, de pulsar lookt then times better than the versa. What nissan needs is to stop working with renault.
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Ligor 10:09AM (8/13/2007)
I was only talking about the looks
casue the Veras IMO is very ugly, and I usually like Nissan designs.
RicardoHead 11:01AM (8/12/2007)
Actually, looks-wise compared to the competition (Fit/Yaris) the Versa is better looking and at least unique and not boring (Fit) or fugly (Yaris). I think the main problem when people cross shop the Versa to those others is that the Versa's mileage is sigificantly lower (I think 4mpg or more lower) which for a budget minded customer is a big deal.
If Nissan had an efficient drivetrain in the Versa they would not be discounting them at the dealers as they do now. And dump the CVT for heaven's sake. No one with a brain wants them.
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Kowell 11:13AM (8/12/2007)
I'm fresh out of University (so safe to say I'm broke) and I'm looking into a Versa this winter and frankly I'd better get THIS insted..... more place
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jgp 1:43PM (8/12/2007)
If you're on a tight budget (i.e. broke), just buy used.
You can get a much bigger and nicer car from the 80s or 90s for less than you can get a new Versa for.
Kowell 11:42AM (8/13/2007)
Big old car is hard on fuel, wich cost around 4$/gallon in Quebec. Beside, old cars don't survive Quebec winter too well..... thanks anyway ;)
LGM 4:40PM (8/12/2007)
Seeing Tiida/Versa and Sentra reminds me what Daimler-Benz has done with Chrysler. You see Sebring, 300C, Pacifica, Crossfire, Nitro... and a sadness start growing in your heart, missing Intrepid, Cirrus, Stratus, Concorde...
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Jimbo 9:36PM (8/12/2007)
Renault is a leading car company in Europe,so why not giving it a chance,why not re-introduce it on the North American market?With such beautiful models like Megane which is far superior than Versa,or stylish laguna i see bright future here in EU as well in the States.Go for it Renault,its time for the peaceful french revolution!!!
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Val 12:06AM (8/13/2007)
Volkswagen is also a leading european company, in fact the biggest in europe, but is still losing close to a billion dollars a year from US operations, no reason to believe that renault will do any better. With current exchange rates and the generally lower prices of cars in the US it seems impossible to sell models like the Clio or Polo in America.
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Ahmet 5:32AM (8/18/2007)
The Turkish newspapers report that this car will be produced at the Renault factory in Turkey.
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