Nicole really has grown up. So too has her car with which she, in a series of iconic TV adverts with 'Papa' in the early 1990s, came to epitomise to British consumers the very gallic spirit of the original Renault Clio.

From the early young, fresh, bubbly and energetic exuberance of that very first model, Clio has now matured into a much more sophisticated, self-assured and polished performer.

But UK buyers will have to wait more than a year for the new sixth generation of the car which I've just been driving in Portugal.

For while the first models of the new Clio will be hitting French and Continental European roads in the New Year, British customers will have to wait until early 2027 before the first right-hand drive versions arrive in the UK.

I must confess to a soft-spot for Clio which since 1990 has sold 1.3million in the UK and 17 million worldwide.

For many years I owned and drove, from new, a nifty metallic blue 16-valve hot-hatch version of the original Clio - complete with power bulge on the bonnet.

But the latest Clio is a world away from that original. 

Even Renault bosses concede that. It is NOT an evolution - it's a completely new and different car.

New Clio has definitely grown up. 

Bigger than its predecessor, looks and styling wise it's more aggressive and less cute, with sporting lines and eye-catching design inside and out. 

The comfortable upmarket interior features a 10.1-inch dual screen and atmospheric ambient mood lighting.

Riding on sporty 18-inch wheels, I drove the new Renault Clio full hybrid E-Tech 160hp in fully-stocked top of the range sportily premium Esprit Alpine trim in one of two bright new shades called Absolute Red (the other being Absolute Green) making seven in all. 

Other trim levels are entry-level Evolution and mid-range Techno.

The nimble new petrol-electric hybrid Clio is powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine linked to two electric motors developing 160hp (up 15hp on its predecessor) linked to an automatic intelligent multimode six-speed gearbox allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 8.3 seconds up to a top speed limited to 112mph.

With claimed fuel economy of 72mpg and a range of 620 miles Renault says the hybrid offers a 40 per cent fuel saving on a pure petrol engine, and that up to 80 per cent of hybrid city driving will be fully electric.

With four driving modes, it proved frugal in Eco, smooth around town when cruising in Comfort, and nicely nippy in my default-setting Sport. 

It also has a Smart setting which adapts to your driving and intelligently moves between the other modes as required.

Though not available to test in Portugal, UK customers will also have the option of a 115 hp 1.2-litre three-cylinder TCe turbo petrol engine version with a six-speed manual gearbox accelerating from 0 to 62mph in 10.1 seconds up to a top speed limited to 112mph, offering 47mpg and CO₂ emissions from 114 g/km.

Expect prices from around just below £20,000 to about £30,000.

But until they arrive in the UK, for British customers it'll be a case of waiting for Renault and 'Carry on, Clio'.

To my mind, the spirit of the original Clio now resides with the French firm's zippy and funky new Renault 5 EV - a 21st century reimagining of the car that the original Clio replaced all those years ago. 

That's not to denigrate the new Clio - simply to point out that it should be seen in its own 21st century terms.

The practical and more mature new Clio is a comfortable, engaging drive that is handy around town, nimble tackling tight corners, cruises well on motorways, and has a decent lick of acceleration and speed when you need it.

But if you're after some real hot-hatch action you'll have to wait for sportier versions in the pipleline.

Will there be a hot 'RS' RenaultSport version? 'Not planned', says Renault, which probably translates best as 'it's coming'.

The new Clio model is marginally bigger than the current model (67mm longer, 39mm wider, 11mm higher and with a wheelbase increased by 8mm), riding on 16-inch of 18-inch wheels depending on the spec and options.

Up to 29 safety and driver assist aids help keep you safe on the road - many being features normally seen on bigger and more luxurious cars. 

These include: active driver assist with intelligent adaptive cruise control; front and rear detection with emergency trajectory correction; reverse emergency braking; safe exit alerts for passengers exiting their cars into the road; and emergency stop assist which slows the vehicle to a full stop if the driver becomes inactive.

Adaptive cruise control is standard across all versions and parking aids include high-definition rear and 360-degree cameras.

The car's 'My Safety Switch' button, located to the left of the steering wheel, allows simultaneous activation/deactivation of up to five advanced driver assist (ADAS) functions.

An interior camera detects fatigue and distraction. 

To help reduce accident risk, Clio is introducing 'Safety Score' which evaluates a driver's behaviour and alertness. 'Safety Coach' offers personalised tips to improve safe driving.

The new Clio also offers 'QRescue' a QR code designed to assist emergency responders in case of an accident.

Over 35 years Clio has been a best-selling and award-winning icon of the Renault range since 1990 - with 17 million sold worldwide and more than 1.3million sold in the UK alone. It is the best-selling French car of all time and was named European Car of the Year in 1991 and 2006.

Britain particularly took the Clio to its heart from 1990 thanks to a captivating, TV advertising campaign centred on the gallic adventures of French father and daughter duo Nicole (played by Estelle Skornik) and her Papa (by the charming Max Douchin). 

I met and was photographed with both 'Nicole' and 'Papa' when their long-running campaign ended in 1998 with a spoof advert (featuring comedians Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer) parodying the final church elopement scene from the movie 'The Graduate'.

Clio then evolved with its Va Va Voom campaign from 1998 with French model and actress Hélène Mahieu (with whom I had dinner) and from 2001 footballer Thierry Henry.

So far this year UK Renault Clio sales are split roughly 60 per cent hybrid and 40 per cent pure petrol.

Renault bosses say the delay in UK deliveries is down to UK government dithering over its controversial zero-emissions ZEV Mandate rules, setting out what proportion of manufacturers' vehicles must be electric in their timetable to scrap petrol and diesel vehicles. 

This left Renault up in the air about what they could export to Britain and when. 

So keep this review in a safe place until you need it.

Will it fit in my garage? New Renault Clio 

On sale UK: from early 2027

Price: from just under £30,000 (tbc). Range from under £20,000

DIMENSIONS

Length: 4,116mm (+67mm over current model)

Width: 1,768mm excluding door mirrors (+39mm))

Height: 1,451mm (+11mm)

Wheelbase: 2.591mm (+8mm)

Kerb weight: 1,298kg

Boot capacity: 309 litres 

Seats: 5 Doors: 5

Wheels: 18-inch diamond cut alloys

PERFORMANCE (Full Hybrid E-Tech 160hp)

Engine: 1.8 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine linked to two electric motors.

Max power: 160 hp (up 15hp)

Battery: 1.4kW

Transmission: Intelligent multimode 6-speed gearbox

Driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart

Acceleration (0–62mph): 8.3 seconds

Top speed: 112mph (limited)

Fuel consumption (combined): 72mpg

CO₂ emissions: from 89g/km

Towing capacity: up to 900 kg