I’m told that some of the system’s technology came from Renault’s Alpine Formula 1 team, so I don’t feel quite so embarrassed about the blue As on the fake side vents of my Clio as I did initially.
You see, as part of the Clio’s mid-life facelift, Renault has added a range-topping Esprit Alpine trim level, which also brings Alpine-branded sports seats and unique alloy wheels with blue centrepieces – but no power boost or any dynamic enhancements.
I’ve always felt uneasy about such things: if Renault really wants to make Alpine into “the French Ferrari”, surely sticking its branding willy-nilly on a hybrid Clio or, for goodness sake, an Espace 1sn t the way to build brand equity. I can’t imagine Maranello endorsing a Fiat 600… but then every Mercedes-Benz is an AMG Line and every BMW is an M Sport now, so who knows?
In any case, really like how this facelifted, Alpine-spirited Clio looks. Compact, confident, not over-detailed and with cool new LED lighting patterns at the front. It’s just a shame that it’s finished in dreary Shadow Grey; I definitely would have paid another £100 for the Flame Red, Valencia Orange or especially the Iron Blue.
The interior, I really must say, is fantastic in the context of today. Yes, it has succumbed to the trend of having a large infotainment touchscreen totally dominating the environment, but its unusual portrait orientation leads to less stretching away from the wheel and, crucially, there’s still plenty of physical switchgear.
Underneath the screen is a dial each for the heat, fan speed and air direction, just as it should be, as well as buttons for the heated seats, EV mode and driving mode selection. Then over to my right is an absolute treat: not just buttons for the heated steering wheel and lane-keeping assistance but also up-down toggles for the angle of the headlights and the brightness of the two screens. (The instruments are, of course, fully digital and customisable.)
The bar is on the floor these days, but Renault is leaping high anyway. Alpine spec also puts sustainable fabric on those sports seats, as well as synthetic leather, which features on the steering wheel too, complemented by blue stitching and blue lining on the seatbelts – small details that I really like.