Renault unveiled their Clio Grand Tour Concept today at the Geneva Motor Show. The design is said to come ahead of "an extension to the Clio III range." It's powered by a 16-valve, 2.0-liter four cylinder and has accommodations for electronic gadgetry throughout. Renault says that it was developed around multimedia and photographic themes, which has us thinking Photoshop, not shooting brakes. But, we're willing to go with their press kit theatrics a little bit.

The concept is a bit like a lot of evolutionary concepts that build on a current platform. For instance: cue up the muted headlight and taillight lenses, pull off some interior dramatics, throw on a new paint scheme, and offer a new styling approach to some element of the roofline. Voila! You've got yerself a concept, Pierre.

Clio Grand Tour Concept: an alluring, practical and dynamic
estate
Renault introduces Clio Grand Tour Concept at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. A glimpse of
developments to come within the Clio III range, Clio Grand Tour Concept targets drivers looking for a
small, dynamic and attractive estate car with the abilities of a classic grand tourer. Finished in special
Comet Gold paintwork, Clio Grand Tour Concept is powered by the 2.0 16V 200hp petrol engine, a unit
that promises incomparable driver appeal. The cabin is bright, practical and comfortable – the perfect
place for relaxing journeys. And with its large, easy-to-load cargo area, Clio Grand Tour Concept is
geared very much towards leisure activities. Developed around photographic and multimedia themes,
the show car has a very high specification and includes a number of benchmark electronic features.
A powerful, dynamic presence
At 4.2 metres in length, Clio Grand Tour Concept will appeal to drivers who want a compact estate with the
panache of a grand tourer. There is no mistaking its provenance. Clio III’s distinctive profile is easily detectable,
although the shape is enhanced by more pronounced curves. Fitted with bespoke side panels and a rakish
tailgate topped by an aerofoil, Clio Grand Tour Concept fizzes with power and energy. The three-door
bodyshell, roof bars, wider front and rear wings, sculpted sills, air ducts and rear diffuser underline its potency.
At the front, a wide air intake grille cools the naturally aspirated 2.0 16V 200hp engine. The streamlined front
lights house high-performance LEDs and the compact rear lights encapsulate Clio Grand Tour Concept’s nononsense
character. The rear-view mirrors and bumpers are painted Comet Gold, like the bodywork. A subtle
array of pixels can be picked out on the sides of the bodywork, suggesting the worlds of multimedia and
photography. Hunched on aluminium wheels – 18-inch rims at the front, 19-inch at the rear – Clio Grand Tour
Concept looks effervescent and dynamic.
A large, practical boot
Clio Grand Tour Concept’s generous proportions will meet the needs of customers looking for a car that blends
practicality and character. Its adaptable interior and longer rear overhang (bigger than that on a standard Clio
III) combine to provide excellent load-carrying capacity. Clio Grand Tour Concept has an impressive 430-litre
boot and the cargo area measures 1.7 metres in length. Svelte, individual seats with integral head-rests offer
comfort and good body support for up to four occupants. The rear seats fold easily to create a flat load area. In
an instant, the Clio Grand Tour Concept transforms into a two-seater coupe – a 100% fun car with a 1,275-litre
load capacity.
Comfort and driver appeal
A cocktail of the Clio III’s remarkable roadholding and sheer driving pleasure, Clio Grand Tour Concept is a car
for free spirits. Its dynamic attributes allow the naturally aspirated 2.0 16-valve engine to show its full potential.
It’s a flexible (215Nm of torque at 5,500rpm), powerful (200hp [145 kW] at 7,250rpm) unit that is lively when
required, yet docile and tractable in everyday driving. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, it accelerates from
0-100kph in just 7.2 seconds.
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Underneath, however, Clio Grand Tour Concept is still a Clio – and that means it’s supremely comfortable and
easy to live with. The practical interior is perfect for relaxing journeys. The wide, panoramic glass roof creates a
bright, airy ambience that highlights the generous cabin dimensions and large boot. The elegant dashboard
incorporates a navigation screen and analogue/digital speedometer. A great deal of attention was paid to
interior lighting. Yellow in tone – Renault’s corporate colour – it gives the cabin a certain vibrancy, which
echoes the car’s entertaining character. The centre console, boot floor and door trims also disseminate streaks
of yellow light.
Photography and multimedia
Step inside Clio Grand Tour Concept and you’ll enter a world of photography and multimedia. The car is
packed with cutting-edge technology from Samsung Electronics Co and nothing has been overlooked. Rear
passengers can watch their favourite DVDs on screens incorporated within the front-seat head-rests. During a
fun weekend away, passengers can capture memorable moments on a 10 million pixel digital camera. Or they
can film their friends on a high-definition MP4 digital camcorder with 2Gb flash memory. A seat and a storage
box with retractable drawers are located in the space beneath the boot floor. When the hatchback is wide open,
a photographer can sit comfortably and transfer pictures or videos to a laptop computer which folds away into
the wheel housing thanks to an articulated arm. With its handsome range of electronic equipment, Clio Grand
Tour Concept isn’t just the ideal mode of transport for a fun weekend away – it’s the perfect means to make
sure you won’t forget it.
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Clio Grand Tour Concept technical data
Dimensions:
Overall length 4,217mm
Width (mirrors not included) 1,785mm
Height 1,506mm
Load area length 1,700mm
Boot area:
With rear seats upright 430 litres
With rear seats folded 1,275 litres
Engine:
2.0-litre petrol, four cylinders, 16 valves
145kW/200hp and maximum torque of 215Nm at 5,500rpm
0-100kph in 7.2 seconds
CO2 emissions: 202g/km
Fuel consumption: 8.5 litres/100km (Combined cycle)
Transmission
Six-speed manual gearbox
Front-wheel drive
Wheels: 18-inch (front), 19-inch (rear)
Tyres: 205/40 ZR18 (front), 225/40 ZR19 (rear)
Photographic and multimedia equipment
MP4 camera: Miniket VP-X220L + hands-free external lens
Video screens: seven-inch Samsung
PC: 12-inch Samsung Q40 ultra-portable
Photo camera: Samsung GX 10
Lenses: 18-55mm + 50-200mm