Name that tuned up Clio in one

Dec 21 2009 Steve Orme

Name that tuned up Clio in one

YOU may remember how France's language puritans jumped through le 'oops when the English term 'weekend' slipped into common Gallic usage. It was made clear that one could go along to the pharmacy to seek out something pour le Samedi or Dimanche but not for le weekend.

Now pantalloonists de l'autre côté de La Manche are up in arms once more over what they see as misuse of their language. This time a girls name.

Renault has upset mums and dads by naming its bizarre looking electric concept Zoe.

This, say parents, will make children called Zoe the butt of untold waggery in the playground.

Well, they have a point. 'Ooh look at the bumpers on Zoe,' may be expected or the harsh accusation that a mademoiselle of that name may have a face like the back end of a hatchback.

The mother of a one-year-old Zoe, the interestingly named Rebecca225, her brake horsepower one presumes, wrote on a website: 'It is completely wrong that Renault should take the name of a woman of my daughter for a car.'

Well, Madame 225, I suggest you tell it to the enduring Clios.

In GT form the popular hachback gets a moderately warm 1.6-litre petrol engine, like the one you have already seen in the Twingo.

In the cheeky to the point of being downright lippy Twingo this is ample power. In the bigger Clio it feels slighty weak, making you thankful for the slick gear shift. You will be seeing a lot of it.

For all that the engine wasn't over thrashy and long range work is tolerable

So, what's with the GT. Well there are those who believe the techies at Renaultsport have problems with fire suit fantasies and wear bell helmets to the pub. Others wonder if the whole bangarama is simply a motorsport badge dispensary.

Sure the £14,000 GT gets the make-up; 16-inch alloys, black front grille and headlamp surrounds, twin tail tubes and a spoiler, but it also benefits from stiffer dampers and a tweaked chassis. So, while acceleration of 9.2 seconds to 60mph won't turn your spleen into a bathing cap, there is still plenty of fun to be had in the bends.

Inside there are sports seats and, well, sports seats. It's a neat enough cabin but more functional than luxurious. Oh, and can we standardise the slots for key cards, please?

Some may wonder just what the GT's purpose is. Be patient, it is a valid addition to the range, slightly quicker than normal cars but cheap to run, returning 37mpg, and dressed to deceive.

While emissions are low a 172g/km of Copenhagens, there is unlikely to be any peace and quiet until everyone has a Zoe Zero.

Renault said, by the way, that there was nothing insulting in the choice of name. 'It evokes values of femininity, of youth, a playful spirit and vivacity,' said Valerian David. Now there's a name.

In all a positive endorsement. One Zoes everywhere can aspire to. We can only hope the same tribute is one day paid to Englishwomen. The Ford Brenda perhaps.