MIMS 2008 Renault's shiny future

Renault MD Rudi Koenig unveiled the new Laguna Estate as the cornerstone and product flagship of the French brand, with its emphasis on safety.

Whilst the new Laguna is fitted with an array of passive and active safety technology and features, such as curtain airbags and ESP, particular attention has been paid to side impact performance.

New Laguna features a system based on two sensors incorporated in the front door and B-pillar with the ability to reduce impact detection and airbag deployment times by up to half of the best systems currently available.

New Laguna is also equipped with warning lights which warn if any of the five seatbelts are not fastened, plus an audible alarm in the case of the front seats.

The dramatic slope of the rear screen on the Estate lends it a striking air. The third side window, with its extended glazed surface, accentuates the dynamic shape. Practicality remains a priority, with numerous new storage innovations, including the new ‘Superfold’ system for the rear seats which offers a perfectly flat load area.

The 2.0 diesel engine mated to a six-speed auto delivers 110kW and 340Nm of torque at just 2000rpm.

The Laguna hatch will go on sale in Australia in June with the estate to follow later in the year.

Hiding away near the back of the Renault stand is arguably its most sporting launch of the year. Doused in discrete black paint is the RenaultSport Clio RS 197, the new pocket rocket that’s not due until July. With a 2.0-litre engine producing 145kW through a six-speed, 17-inch wheels, side gills and a rear diffuser eliminating the need for a rear wing, the Clio RS is the pure definition of hot hatch.

Front and centre is the Koleos Concept car. Signaling a new direction for Renault, the AWD soft-roader runs a 2.0-litre diesel engine with 130kW and a six-speed manual.

Amid a concert of dueling violins – classical versus metal – the dual personality of the Koleos is reflected in its dual mode 2WD or 4WD drivetrain and split-opening tailgate.

On 19-inch tyres, the Koleos Concept gives strong clues to Renault’s future with the production version appearing in October at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney.