Renault Laguna Coupe Concept: Le 350Z?

Motoring Channel Staff - 10/September/2007

Frankfurt, Germany — The French are often seen as trend setters in the fashion industry, and Renault has turned it's hand towards something very stylish at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Laguna Coupe concept is already being hailed as the 'European' 350Z, which would be a huge drawcard for the Renault line-up. It would add an attractive and elegant coupe model to the French car makers range, but would also give the brand more credibility as a serious sports car maker.

Renault is often noted as having some of the best engine technology in the Formula 1 championship, and at present the sportiest car it can offer its customers is a rather un-F1 front-wheel Megane Hatch with a 2.0-litre turbo engine.

This new couple model, which is expected to reach production later in 2008, would give Renault a true sports car to market it's Formula 1 exploits.

At present we only have photo leaks for the new model, but we believe the new model will offered with a few different engines. 

First up will be 4-cylinder turbo petrol and diesel engines, but there is also a lot of speculation surrounding the implementation of the same 3.5-litre V6 from the Nissan 350Z which is arguably one of the best naturally aspirated V6 engines on the planet.

It is still unclear as to whether the new Renault Laguna Coupe will be front- or rear-wheel drive.

Alongside the new Renault Laguna sedan and wagon that also made their debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, the new Laguna Coupe is based on a similar platform to its less athletic stablemates and the design takes the Laguna brand to a new place.

The overall profile of the new car is sleek and looks like a blend of the Nissan 350Z, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and the Alfa Romeo GT Coupe. The headlight design is very conceptual and may be changed for the production version, but expect the slim line brake lights to remain.

When Renault delivers more information on the new vehicle, we'll update this page with the information so stay tuned.

Update: Renault has fired off a press release for the Laguna Coupe Concept, and at present there is no talk of the Nissan 350Z's 3.5-litre V6 engine finding it's way into the svelte new model.

It does talk about a new 3.0-litre V6 engine developed in conjunction with Nissan however. This turbocharged diesel engine develops between 170kW and 195kW (230hp and 265hp) depending on the version. Peak torque will vary between 450-550Nm, which Renault says is enough to propel the car from zero to 100km/h in 7.0 seconds.

Engine power is diverted through a 6-speed automatic gearbox to the front wheels. Natch. And it's fairly heavy too - 1685kg.

Rear-wheel drive is now out of the question, though a 4WD version coupe appear in future. The Renault document does outline something it calls the "Four-wheel Active Drive chassis". We're not 100% sure what this is, but it may have something to do with a 4-wheel steering system and adaptive suspension.

Here's some choice excerpts from the Renault Laguna Coupe media release: "Developed from the same platform as New Laguna, Laguna Coupé Concept is the first car to feature the new four-wheel Active Drive chassis. This high-tech underpinning, developed by expert engineers at Renault Sport Technologies, guarantees the ultimate in sheer sporting sensation and dynamic driving pleasure. It allies agility with stability to set new standards in safe handling. At low speeds the chassis offers greater manoeuvrability, while its road-holding is so true that it cleaves to the road as surely as a train on rails.

"Laguna Coupé Concept makes a statement about its owner’s life-style and personality. A car for the car-lover, it appeals to 40-somethings who are passionate about automobiles and motor sport – connoisseurs who are demanding, ambitious, and driven by a desire for professional success. Prone to falling in love with a car at first sight, they are quite capable of changing brand, and will appreciate the style, the technology, and the design and production qualities of Laguna Coupé Concept."

Fini.

Dimensions

• Length 4,685 mm

• Width 1,964 mm

• Height 1,372 mm

• Wheel base 2,710 mm

• Front track 1,661 mm

• Rear track 1,693 mm

• Front overhang 1,050 mm

• Rear overhang 925 mm

• Weight 1,685 kg

• Boot 380 dm3 (VDA)

Technical data

• Engine 3.0 V6 turbo diesel

• Power 230 hp (170 kW) to 265 hp (195 kW)

• Max. torque 450 to 550 Nm from 1,700 to 3,800 rpm

• Gearbox 6-speed automatic

• Transmission Front-wheel

• Chassis Active Drive 4-wheel steer

• Tyres 245/35 ZR20

Partners

• Artware Bodywork manufacturer

• AVMJ Bluetooth control module

• Bose ® Sound system

• Michelin Pilot Sport tyres

• Stabilus Hydraulic door stays

• Samsung MP3/MP4 player and telephone

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