Beside the Twingo production model unveiled in Geneva, Renault took the wraps off the Clio Grand Tour concept pictured here. This show car is designed to appeal to drivers seeking a small, stylish estate with, as the name suggests, the essence of a classic grand tourer.

The concept is a 4200mm long variation of the familiar Clio design. At the front, a wide air intake grille underscores the Renault face with streamlined LED headlamps. The three-door body shell has been revised with bespoke side panels adorned with a subtle array of strategically placed pixel graphics, alluding to the multimedia and photography equipment fitted within the car.

A steeply raked front windscreen blends into a sloping glass roofline which drops in height significantly before tapering off in the rear. The door mirrors and bumpers are painted Comet Gold, like the bodywork, while the roof mounted bars are another aesthetic enhancement employed to denote its grand touring pretensions.

Wider front and rear wings with sculpted sills lend a sporting flair to the design, accentuated by air ducts behind the front wheelarches and large (18-inch front and 19-inch rear) alloy wheels. A rear diffuser and a rakish tailgate (topped by a bootlid spoiler above the rear windscreen) further emphasise the sporting stance.

Inside, the panoramic glass roof creates a bright, airy ambience that highlights the cabin. The dashboard incorporates a navigation screen and analogue/digital speedometer and the centre console, boot floor and door trims disseminate streaks of yellow light - Renault's corporate colour. The carmaker claims the lighting gives the cabin 'vibrancy', echoed by the car's entertaining character.

Photography and multimedia are the key sources for entertainment aboard. DVD screens are fitted in the front-seat headrests and a 10 million pixel digital camera and high-definition MP4 digital camcorder are stored within a box with retractable drawers beneath the boot floor. With the hatchback open, pictures or videos can be transferred to a laptop computer that folds away into the wheel housing thanks to an articulated arm.

The cabin is also claimed to be practical and comfortable; it's made up of four individual seats with integral headrests and a large, easy-to-load boot. The concept's adaptable interior and longer rear overhang combine to provide a 430-litre boot capacity, with up to 1700mm in length available overall. The rear seats fold easily to create a flat load area, transforming the car into a two-seater coupé with a 1275-litre load capacity.

The concept's power source is a 2-litre 16V petrol engine creating 200bhp at 7,250rpm and offering 159lb.ft of torque at 5,500rpm. Paired to a six-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels, Renault claims that the Grand Tour has an acceleration capability of 7.2 seconds in a run from 0-62mph.

We're not sure what Renault is intending to do with this concept, whether it previews a more conventional Clio estate or whether the company is considering producing this body shape as it is. It could turn into an interesting rival to MINI's forthcoming Clubman.

Eric Gallina - 14 Mar 2007