SPOTTED: The new '05 Clio in disguise

This is the first glimpse of the new Renault Clio, hidden by a camouflage covering the whole car

This is the first glimpse of the new Renault Clio, hidden by a camouflage covering the whole car. The real thing will look much more like the computer illustration, below, created using inside information.

The new Clio - both in three- and five-door guise - will hit the roads in summer 2005, sharing its underpinnings and mechanics with the current Nissan Micra. The car's length will grow slightly to 3.82 metres. However, height and width will be left unchanged.

The engine range will contain four-cylinder petrol units between 60 bhp and 170 bhp plus two variants of the dCi diesels developing 64 and 82 bhp respectively.

The 226-bhp high-performance 3-litre V6 Clio Sport will follow these more civilised versions in 2006. Of more import to the Irish market, however, will be the introduction in 2007 of a car code-named J77 Cliospace.

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This will be a micro MPV based on the new Clio hatch. At 3.93 metres long, it'll be a direct rival to Opel's Meriva micro-van and the new Fiat and Lancia MPVs. Apart from the low-performing 60-bhp engine and a range-topping 226-bhp V6 and 170-bhp straight-four, all Clio engines are expected to make it into this diminutive MPV.