It’s been nearly 25 years for the reason that most outstanding metropolis vehicles on the French market have made their mark on their pants. “Renew your self, let me do the identical” the Clio and 208 appear to reply one another, in flip, at a gentle tempo. A narrative that may repeat itself in 2023, when their present generations will quickly mark 4 years of profession. Each will go blow for blow, each when it comes to design and engines, and even multimedia, hoping to succeed in the highest step of the gross sales podium, all classes mixed.
Design
It’s to start with outdoors that the worst enemies will stand out. However the strain will likely be primarily on the shoulders of the Clio whose design, usually thought of too near the earlier opus, was usually decried. Just isn’t the Volkswagen Golf that desires. And to disconcert a little bit bit the clientele gained over to the reason for the Frenchwoman who had turn out to be accustomed to the entire renewal of her fashion, from one era to the following, since 1990. In comparison with the present one, the 2023 classic will widen its grille, lastly flanked by the brand new Diamond, within the spirit of its massive brother Austral, whereas its optics will flip their backs on the C-shaped mild signatures, as advocated by the Scenic idea automobile final yr, below the impulse of Gilles Vidal, the designer defecting from Peugeot just a few years in the past. The modifications will likely be extra discreet on the stage of the strict, the brand new Clio in all probability contenting itself with revisiting the body of its daytime operating lights.
For its half, the Peugeot 208 will play it extra relaxed. Certain of her stylistic achievements, she is going to add a layer of them by asserting her Lioness character a little bit extra by tripling her luminous claws round an enlarged grille which may also home the model’s new emblem. Which may also be discovered on the entrance fenders of essentially the most opulent variants, in addition to on the tailgate. A rear half which is able to modernize its mild signatures, within the spirit of latest Sochaux achievements.
Engines
Whereas we imagined, when it got here out, the hybrid Clio profitable fingers down the match of electrified metropolis vehicles towards a costlier and fewer versatile 208 100% electrical, it have to be acknowledged that the Lioness has gained the guess of radicalism, supporting gross sales figures. And the Renault has one thing to fret about insofar because the Peugeot will drive the purpose residence by including micro-hybridization (48V) to a few of its thermal blocks in its vary. We’re pondering specifically of the brand new 3-cylinder 136 hp which is able to place itself judiciously towards the 140 hp of the Clio, whereas promising a cheaper price for the reason that 208 will solely improve the capability of its battery to fifteen kW towards 35 kW for its rival. And that’s not all for the reason that e-208, the totally electrical model, will transfer up a gear by way of a brand new block giving it 20 hp of energy to peak at 156 hp, in addition to a extra environment friendly battery which guarantees to exceed 400 km of autonomy.
Inside
On board, our frenchies will in all probability not wish to begin from scratch, partly for financial causes, however above all as a result of they have been capable of equip themselves from the outset with dashboards elevated to the rank of reference within the class, from their launch. Each from a stylistic and ergonomic viewpoint, with out forgetting the standard of manufacture, Clio like 208 will renew their fundamentals throughout their facelifts. Essentially the most notable developments will likely be noticed within the multimedia register, by way of the replace of their infotainment software program. On this topic, the Clio ought to maintain the benefit.
Launch date and worth
If the revelation of the restyled Peugeot 208 is anticipated earlier than the summer time, the brand new Renault Clio will wait till the beginning of the varsity yr to carry the veil on its new finery. When it comes to costs, the Franche-Comté, at present obtainable from €18,630, ought to simply exceed the €19,000 mark to justify its metamorphosis. As traditional, the Clio will stay barely extra accessible. She who’s at present claiming €17,800 on the entry stage will see this entry ticket in all probability approaching €18,500 within the coming months.
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