New Renault Clio to lean into “future icon” design, but EV version off the table

• Sixth-generation Renault Clio to get “future icon” design
• Petrol and hybrid engines, but no electric version
• Expected to arrive in 2027

Renault may have been busy reinventing its back catalogue of historic models lately, but it hasn’t entirely forgotten about its best-selling supermini – the Renault Clio. An all-new generation of the French runaround in the works, and it’ll take a very different approach to the Renault 4 and Renault 5 that are currently stealing headlines.

Those two EVs are Renault’s “legendary icons”, with retro-infused styling inspired by popular models from the brand’s backcatalogue. Laurens van den Acker, design director at the Renault Group, explained that the Clio sits adjacent to these models as a “future icon”, which has allowed designers to look ahead to more modern shapes and forms, as shown in our exclusive preview image.

What will the new Renault Clio look like?

Very different from the Renault 4 and 5, for starters. Those models are modern reinventions of Renault’s most iconic models from the past, but the brand views the Clio as an opportunity to push its forward-looking design language, with the possibility of it becoming an icon in the future. “Our intention is to produce design icons – though that will only be decided in 30 years’ time,” explained Renault’s design boss, Gilles Vidal. 

Van den Acker added, “with the Clio next generation, we can do very modern-looking, sensual Latin cars. We can push the sexiness, the sensuality and make these cars look very desirable in a modern way.”

Renault’s Emblème concept from 2024 provided an impression of where Renault’s future design is heading. It mixed simple, curvaceous shapes with bold graphics and details – very different from the boxy looks of the Renault 4 and 5. “We’re trying to go a long way with simplicity, generous surfacing and sharp graphics,” explained Vidal.

In our preview image, the Clio’s slim headlights are sunken under a sharp crease, with a pair of daytime-running lights below. These echo Renault’s diamond logo and provide the strong graphical identity that Vidal was keen to highlight. This motif is repeated in the front radiator grille behind an illuminating Renault badge. At the rear, we expect the new Clio to sport a similar design to the Megane E-Tech, with horizontal tail-lights and a narrow rear window.

Will the new Renault Clio go electric?

That’s a no, we’re afraid. Recent spy shots of the new Clio confirmed its typical supermini proportions, with a longer bonnet than that of the Renault 5. This led us to believe that it would use a traditional petrol engine rather than a smaller electric motor – a suspicion that was confirmed by Van den Acker.

“It wouldn’t make sense to do a 100% EV Renault 5 and Clio. We want to be careful not to create vehicles that overlap each other,” he explained. The Renault 4 and 5 will serve customers wanting to go fully-electric, while the Clio will exist for buyers who aren’t ready to make that switch.

But it does beg the question: what will be under the Clio’s bonnet? The current Clio is offered with either a petrol engine or the brand’s excellent E-Tech self-charging hybrid setup, both of which could make the jump to the next-generation model. A pure-petrol model would help to reduce costs and keep the Clio as an accessible car for the masses, but the hybrid could be vital for Renault to hit strict emissions targets.

Van den Acker explained that Renault is still “trying to find out what’s the right mix of powertrains to fulfil the regulations.” The UK’s ZEV mandate is causing consternation among car makers over here, while the stricter Euro 7 emissions standard comes into force later this year, both of which will impact Renault’s engine strategy moving forward.

“But the customer is always right,” Van den Acker pointed out, perhaps hinting that the push towards costly electric tech and tighter emissions standards is somewhat at odds with customer demand for affordable vehicles.

When will the new Renault Clio go on sale?

Renault is eyeing up 2026 for the reveal of the sixth-generation Clio, although a UK release is still to be confirmed. We reckon it’s highly likely to make it to our shores, given that the supermini currently accounts for 30% of Renault’s UK sales. Once it has been re-engineered for the right-hand drive market, we expect the Clio to go on sale here in 2027.

Find the latest new and used Renault Clio deals on our sister site Auto Express