Mark Bradbury

Launched in 1990 as the successor to the groundbreaking Renault 5, the Renault Clio had a hard act to follow. As Mark Bradbury shows, however, the Clio not only matched but surpassed the Renault 5, becoming one of Europe’s bestselling small cars and winning the European Car of the Year Award twice, a record only matched by the Volkswagen Golf. Its success in the United Kingdom owed much to an impressive marketing campaign, including the ‘Nicole and Papa’ television advertisements. This thoroughly researched book covers the design and development of the Clio and the ongoing technical changes, improvements and facelifts that would take it through five generations. The book also covers the ‘hot’ versions such as the Renault Sport, Gordini and Williams, and the Clio’s involvement in motorsport and rallying. Including feedback from British road tests and accompanied by a wide range of photographs, this is a concise, readable and revealing account of one of Europe’s most successful small cars.

The Ford Fiesta has been one of the most successful superminis and one of Britain’s most popular cars for decades. First launched in 1976, the Fiesta was styled as a front-wheel-drive ‘world car’ that was Ford’s answer to the successful Renault 5 and Fiat 127. As this book shows, the Fiesta went from strength to strength, establishing itself as the ubiquitous second car, student’s car and learner’s car. In this readable book, motoring expert Mark Bradbury explores the design and development of the Fiesta as Ford sought to produce a small car for the modern city driver. He details the launch and reception by the public and motoring press and the production of the now classic early models as well as the very last. Also featured are the sporty Fiestas, including the RS and turbo versions and derivatives and variants, as well as the vans, the Ka and the Puma. Bringing the story right up to date with the latest models, the book reflects on the legacy of the Fiesta as it reached the end of its production.Packed with fascinating insights and accompanied by a full range of illustrations, this is a concise and complete guide to this highly regarded and much-loved car.