it�s the super-coup� that�s got added Va Va Voom! And it proves that Ren�ault is swapping safe for sexy.
Reaching UK dealers at the end of next year, the sensational new Lag�una Coup� shows the French brand is returning to flamboyant design � building on the legacy of the Avan�time MPV and the luxury Vel Satis.
However, unlike those models, it will be no sales flop. The newcomer is set to mark the revival of the affordable coup�, and will join the reborn Volkswagen Scirocco and the forthcoming Hyundai Coup� in a market sector where style and head-turning looks don�t have to come at a huge price. Tipped to cost around �20,000 when it arrives in the UK in Decem�ber 2008, the two-door is certain to sell like hot croissants � so we caught up with it at Renault�s test track in northern France to see what buyers can expect.
Revealed at September�s Frankfurt Motor Show, the Coup� looks every bit as amazing on the road as it did on the stand. It�s part of Renault�s plan to challenge the likes of BMW and Audi, and bosses know that improving reliability and quality alone isn�t enough � the car needs style, too.
To this end, the Coup� is everything its hatch brother isn�t: daring, dynamic and desirable, with shades of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage from the rear. You could park it next to a BMW 3-Series Coup� and plenty of people would prefer the Renault on looks. Stephane Janin, the man in charge of Renault�s concept car des�ign, is pleased with the results.
He told us: �We wanted to produce a car that people would desire and want to buy. The Coup� is a sexy model with a lot of drama that should appeal to a much wider audience.�
At the front, piercing headlights stretch back into the bonnet. They�re accompanied by two slim-line LED foglamps that light up the ground-hugging grille. The side profile is particularly striking, and is distinguished by its steeply raked roofline and shal�low windows, which give the newcomer a racy and athletic stance.
Sadly, the show car�s exotic scissor doors are too costly to put into production, while the glamorous cabin � with its minimalist layout, intricate dials and spade-shaped auto selector � will be replaced by an upmarket version of the standard Laguna design.
In fact, the interior will be a real strength � high on quality and comfort � and our drive showed Renault has got the basics right. The driving position is low, the seats hug you and small glass areas provide a cocooned feel.
Although we weren�t able to put the priceless show car fully to the test, the signs look good, with finished versions set to get the same four-wheel steering as the GT hatch, plus a sporty suspension set-up.
There will also be plenty of engine choices. Driving the front wheels via a six-speed manual or automatic box will be a 168bhp 2.0-litre petrol turbo or a 2.0 dCi turbodiesel. Flagship cars get a powerful new 3.5-litre petrol V6 shared with the Coup�s Nissan 350Z stablemate or Renault�s fresh 180bhp 3.0 V6 diesel. The latter combines a 0-60mph time of seven seconds with economy of around 45mpg. Add it all up and, if bosses get the price right, they�ll have a winner on their hands.
Rival: Volkswagen SciroccoReviving one of VW�s most famous badges, the reborn Scirocco takes a new approach with a hatch body and radical styling. It promises a sporty driving experience � thanks to underpinnings shared with the latest Golf GTI � and is the car the Laguna Coup� has to beat.
FIRST OPINION
If you were disappointed by the styling of the brand new Laguna, then the Coup� version will blow you away. Renault has pulled out all the stops with the latest addition to its line-up. It�s fantastic to look at, with a sleek and dramatic shape that demonstrates French flair at its very best. We have no doubt that the newcomer will turn heads when it arrives here in December next year � and with a winning range of engines plus a hi-tech chassis, it should drive as well as it looks. We can�t wait!
AT A GLANCE
Price: �20,000 (est)
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel
Power: 180bhp
Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Top speed: 140mph (est)
0-62mph: 7.0 seconds (est)
Economy: 45mpg (est)
Equipment: Leather upholstery, climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth, iPod-compatible CD
stereo, alloy wheels
On sale: December 2008
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