The Clio Williams was named for the Renault-powered F1 team, but Williams had nothing to do with designing it — it was all Renault Sport. It still ended up as F1's own Safety Car in 1996.
Lead trim: 1.1 D7F multi-point injection (54 PS) · up to 135 hp
Renault Clio IX57 · 1990–1998
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Renault Clio I yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactThe Clio Williams was named for the Renault-powered F1 team, but Williams had nothing to do with designing it — it was all Renault Sport. It still ended up as F1's own Safety Car in 1996.
Introduced at the Paris Motor Show in June 1990 (UK sales from March 1991) as the replacement for the Renault 5, on largely the R5's suspension and floorpan (derived from the R9/R11), and the first Renault to break with numeric names (sold in Japan as the Lutecia, since Honda held the Clio name for a dealer network). It launched with the 1.2 and 1.4 E-type "Energy" petrol fours from the Renault 19 and 1.7/1.9 diesels, carburettors giving way to injection by the end of 1992. It was European Car of the Year for 1991 and became one of Europe's best sellers. The 1991 RSi added the 110 PS 1.8 with discs all round, the Baccara (renamed Initiale in 1997) was the luxury version, and the 1.8 16-valve 16S (16V in export markets, 137 PS, 209 km/h) succeeded the Renault 5 GT Turbo; the limited Clio Williams (150 PS, 3,800 first, over 12,000 in all) followed in 1993. Phase 2 arrived in March 1994 and phase 3 in May 1996 (with the 1,149 cc D7F from the Twingo). The UK's "Papa and Nicole" adverts made it a household name.
Collectors Spotted in the Renault Clio Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Renault Clio yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
8 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 D7F multi-point injection (54 PS) | 1996–1998 | 1.1 L Inline-4 | 53 hp | 69 lb-ft | — | FWD | — | — |
| 1.2 E5F carburettor (60 PS) | 1990–1993 | 1.2 L Inline-4 | 59 hp | 63 lb-ft | — | FWD | — | — |
| 1.2 E7F single-point injection (54 PS) | 1990–1997 | 1.2 L Inline-4 | 53 hp | 61 lb-ft | — | FWD | — | — |
| 1.4 E7J (75 PS) | 1990–1998 | 1.4 L Inline-4 | 74 hp | 79 lb-ft | — | FWD | — | — |
| 1.8 F3P (88 PS) | 1990–1996 | 1.8 L Inline-4 | 87 hp | 105 lb-ft | — | FWD | — | — |
| 1.8 RSi multi-point injection (110 PS) | 1993–1995 | 1.8 L Inline-4 | 108 hp | 114 lb-ft | — | FWD | — | — |
| 1.9 d F8Q diesel (64 PS) | 1991–1998 | 1.9 L Inline-4 | 63 hp | 87 lb-ft | — | FWD | — | — |
| 16S / 16V 1.8 F7P DOHC 16-valve (137 PS) | 1991–1995 | 1.8 L Inline-4 | 135 hp | 117 lb-ft | — | FWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Brand new 2025 model not sold in North America; essentially none here yet. About 5 on North American roads today (estimate). Never sold new in North America.
For two model years this Clio quietly wore a Japanese badge, sold as the Mitsubishi Colt from 2023 to 2025.
When the Clio R.S. launched in Mexico in 2014, it held a unique spot in Renault's local lineup — the only French-built car the brand sold there.
The Clio III Estate was a genuine surprise against its bigger sibling: its cargo hold actually beat the much larger Mégane wagon for space.
In 1998, Renault quietly ran an electric Clio carshare scheme outside Paris — plug in or park on an induction pad, 35-40 miles of range, membership for a tenner a month.
The Clio Williams was named for the Renault-powered F1 team, but Williams had nothing to do with designing it — it was all Renault Sport. It still ended up as F1's own Safety Car in 1996.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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