Car Briefs

Specification changes for Renault Clio range

Renault has announced specification changes for its Clio line -up. The Clio three-door range will now consist of four trims - Extreme, Rip Curl, Dynamique and Dynamique S, while the Clio five-door range has five trim levels - Expression, Rip Curl, Dynamique, Dynamique S and Initiale. As a result, Renault is offering customers extra features on some trims. The Extreme is now the entry-level point for Clio three-door. It gains front fog lights and extra-tinted windows as standard. Five-doors in Expression trim will now benefit from cruise control, speed limiter and automatic headlights and wipers and Dynamique now includes 16-inch alloy wheels, extended front wings, a/c, and automatic headlights.

New Peugeot hybrid concept car to star at Paris Motor Show

Peugeot will unveil a brand new hybrid concept car at the Paris Motor Show in October, but for now the company is remaining tight-lipped about the precise details of the car. In fact, Peugeot won't even confirm the car's name, referring to it so far as the "RC..." and promising that the full name will only be revealed at the show. Likewise, the company won't say exactly what sort of hybrid powertrain is driving the car, or what fuel it uses. All they will say is that the car has a potential maximum power output of 313bhp, but CO2 emissions of just 109g/km in the combined cycle, or zero when running in all-electric mode.

New Ford Ka gets starring role in new Bond movie

The new Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, will feature a cameo appearance from Fords new Ka. Similarly to the Mondeo, which starred in previous Bond film, Casino Royale, the Ka will make its screen debut alongside the films leading lady Olga Kurylenko. The Quantum of Solace Ka is unique with metallic gold paint and an exclusive exterior graphics and interior trim combination. "The new Ka is the perfect match for the character of Camille - adventurous, individual and thoroughly modern," says Ford of Europe's chief operating officer, Stephen Odell. "We are delighted that the launch of the film coincides with the launch of such a significant new model for Ford of Europe." Further technical details of the new Ford Ka will be revealed closer to launch later in 2008.