Inspired by the latest Laguna, the Clio MkIV is expected to go on sale early in 2009. There will be three and five-door hatchbacks, plus a new estate, and the most obvious changes have been made to the nose. As part of a push to improve its pedestrian safety rating and road presence, it has revised headlights, a fresh grille, larger badge and reshaped bonnet.

At the rear, the alterations are less obvious, but include distinctive lamps and a sharp horizontal crease across the tailgate which helps to improve boot capacity. Changes to the supermini’s profile are less pronounced, mainly because the next Clio shares its chassis with the current machine. That means the wheelbase remains the same, as does the roofline.