You Will Not Believe What Renault Is Hiding Under This Camouflage

New spy shots of the next-generation Renault Clio just hit the web, giving us a first glimpse at what the French automaker is working on. Though the car is still under heavy camouflage, there are already clues hinting at a big step forward in design.

The Clio has been a cornerstone in Renault’s lineup since its debut back in 1990 at the Paris Motor Show. Over the decades, it has earned its place as a favorite in Europe, winning the “Car of the Year” title twice. In 2024, it held strong in second place in the European sales race with more than 216,000 units sold, just behind the Dacia Sandero. The current fifth-generation Clio launched in early 2019 and received a mild facelift in 2023. Now, Renault appears to be testing a fully reworked model, and it looks like we are heading into a new era for this hatchback.

At first, you might think this is another minor update, but the shape of the windows and rear glass confirms it is a brand-new body. The camouflage hides most of the surface details, but you can still pick out some interesting features. The front end looks longer, with a smaller radiator grille and headlight shapes that are not fully revealed yet. The bumper has a wide central air intake, and you can expect LED running lights along the sides. The hatchback keeps traditional front door handles, but the rear ones remain cleverly hidden in the pillars. Around back, the window appears slimmer and the tail lights take on a sharper, more modern shape, staying in line with Renault’s latest design language.

Nothing is official yet regarding the powertrain, but it is very likely we will see mild hybrid petrol engines around 1.2 liters in size, making between 115 and 140 horsepower. A more powerful E-Tech hybrid version may also be in the works, possibly using the same 1.8-liter TCe engine with 160 horsepower that is planned for the new Dacia Bigster.

The full reveal could happen before the end of 2024. Meanwhile, Renault recently introduced a new special edition of the Grand Koleos crossover, which is built on the Geely Monjaro platform.