The Clio was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in June 1990 and sales in France and the rest of the continent began then, although sales in Britain did not begin until March 1991. The Clio largely replaced the Renault 5 (which continued to be built in lower volumes until 1994 in Slovenia as a budget alternative). The engine range available at launch included 1.2L and 1.4L E-type “Energy” petrol I4 engines (first seen in the R19) and 1.7L and a 1.9L diesel (both based on the F-type unit) engines. The petrol engines all received an electronic fuel injection system in place of carburettors in 1992, in order to conform to new pollutant emission regulations.

A minor trim facelift occurred after only a year of being on sale. A new “smooth” version of the Renault diamond badge (the previous “ribbed” badge was being phased out at the time) and a new front seat design were the only changes. The altered design did not constitute a new “phase”. In March 1993, the Phase 2 model was launched, with small updates to the exterior and interior of the Clio. Most noticeable was the change in the front grille from two metal ribs to a single colour-coded slat grille. The bump strips were made slightly larger and rounder, and the car’s trim level badge was incorporated into the bump strips. The badges on the tailgate strip were moved up onto the tailgate itself and the tailgate strip was given a carbon fibre look. The rear light clusters were given a slightly more rounded bubble shape to them, giving the Clio a more modern look. The clusters, however, are physically interchangeable with Phase 1 clusters.

In 1995, with the arrival of the Phase 3 facelifted Clio, the 1.2L Energy engine was replaced by the 1149cc D7F MPi (Multi Point Injection) DiET engine, first used in the Renault Twingo; for some time also, versions were available with the older 1239cc “Cléon” unit from the original Twingo. The cylinder head design on the 1.4L E-Type was also slightly altered for the Phase 3 models in a bid for better fuel economy. This resulted in the engines producing slightly less power than their earlier versions.

The Phase 3 Clios had a slightly more noticeable update than the Phase 2’s. The Phase 3 has different, more rounded headlights, incorporating the turn signal in the unit with the headlight. The bonnet curved more around the edges of the lights. The tailgate incorporated a third brake light and a new script “Clio” name badge, following the same typeface as contemporary Renaults. Some mechanical improvements were also made.

During 1991, a 1.8L 16-valve engine producing 137PS (101kW) (also first seen in the R19) capable of propelling the car to 208km/h (129mph) was introduced to the Clio engine range, known simply as the Clio 16S in France (S for “soupappe”, the French word for valve), and Clio 16V in export markets. As well as having higher top speed than a regular Clio, the 16S sported wider plastic front bumpers, an offset bonnet vent, wider rear bumpers and uprated suspension and brakes, and colour-coded front mirrors and bumpers.

Renault also released a warm hatch version of the Clio. It was aesthetically very similar to the Clio RT & 16S, but with the addition of a 110PS (81kW) 1.8L 8-valve engine, side skirts and disc brakes on all wheels. This was badged as the RSi. As with the Volkswagen Golf MK2’s 8- and 16-valve GTI variants, the 8-valve model had more torque at lower engine revs and was more of a “drivers car” on winding roads.

The Clio was voted European Car of the Year for 1991, and soon became one of Europe’s best-selling cars, as well as the first Renault to be consistently among the top-10 best sellers in the United Kingdom. UK sales were helped by a famous television advertising campaign by Publicis shot in France, featuring the two main characters of Nicole (played by Estelle Skornik, who was not French nor did she have a driving licence at the time) and Papa.

From 1991 to 1993, trim levels were identical in every European country. Starting in 1993, each country of sale had individual trim levels designations.

Sales across Europe were strong throughout its production life, and a decade after its demise it is still a common sight on Europe’s roads.

Clio Williams

In 1992, Renault launched the Clio Williams with a limited run of 500, for racing homologation purposes. The car was named after the then Renault-powered Formula One team WilliamsF1, though Williams had nothing to do with the design or engineering of this Clio. The modifications to the Clio 16S on which it was based were the work of Renault Sport, Renault’s motorsport division.

The 2.0L 16-valve straight-4 engine rated at 150PS (110kW) and a top speed of 215km/h (134mph), with performance-tuned ride and handling. Renault later released the Williams 2 and Williams 3 special editions, much to the chagrin of those owners who had been assured of the exclusivity of the “original” Williams. The differences between the three versions of the Williams were largely a reflection of phase changes across the Clio range e.g. the gradual addition of enhanced safety features and cosmetic variations. Other than this, the Williams 1 and 2 had no sunroof and were painted in 449 Sports Blue. The final Williams 3 was painted in a slightly brighter shade of blue (432 Monaco Blue) and finally gained a sunroof which had long been standard on virtually all previous Clios. The original Williams was the lightest of the three, lacking the electrics necessary for the sunroof or the mirrors but was the only one to sport a metal plaque stating the build number.

Respected motoring journalists consistently rate the Williams as one of the very best hot hatches ever made[citation needed], regardless of era. One common mistake people can make is thinking that the 2.0 16V (F7R) used in the Williams is simply a bored out 1.8 16V (F7P), whereas, in reality the large engine had different size valves, cams and crank. Other differences between the Williams and the Clio 16S it is based on include a wider front track with some parts borrowed from the Renault 19. wider speedline alloys, uprated (JC5) gearbox, bespoke four-to-one manifold, firmer suspension and some cosmetic differences on the exterior and interior.