AHEAD of the late 1998 launch of the new Renault Clio, the French manufacturer has launched the 1.2-litre 60 bhp Clio Biarritz. Replacing the Panache and offering higher specification at no extra cost, Renault expects the new model to become the best-selling Clio version.

Costing £7,895 on the road in three-door form and £8,345 for the five-door, the model features: remote central locking, body-coloured bumpers, a tilt/slide sunroof, radio/cassette and tinted glass.