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Renault has opened the order book for its 2008 Modus and Grand Modus models, which come with a choice of two trim levels and five engines.

Prices start at £9,650 for the Modus with an entry-level 1.2-litre 75bhp petrol engine and Expression trim and equipment, rising to £12,550 for the Modus Dynamique dCi 86 Quickshift5.

Grand Modus prices range from £10,250 for models with the same engine and equipment package as the entry-level Modus, rising to £13,400 for the Dynamique dCi 106.

The newcomers will be exported here from the French firm’s Spanish factory from February.

The Modus will have an overall length of 3,874mm in comparison to 4,034mm for the Grand Modus.

With a wheelbase of 2,575mm, the Grand Modus is claiming one of the roomiest interiors and biggest boot volumes in its class.

The carrying capacity of 410 litres is 50 per cent larger than that of the standard Modus, which uses the same platform as Nissan’s Note.

There is also a split folding rear seat and a myriad of storage compartments within the vehicle.

In the case of the standard Modus, Renault says it is aimed at customers looking for a vehicle with a high driving position and an effective compromise between exterior dimensions and cabin space.

Additional features on Expression versions of both the new Modus and Grand Modus include air conditioning, 15-inch Aria wheel trims, 2 x 15W RDS radio CD with fingertip controls, body-coloured door handles, body-coloured electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, height adjustable driver’s seat, electric front windows with driver and passenger one-touch control, striped interior trim and multi-function trip computer.

Additional features on Dynamique version of both vehicles include 15-inch alloy wheels, curtain airbags, electrically folding and adjustable heated door mirrors, electric rear windows, front fog lights, a leather steering wheel and gear knob, rear seatbelt pretensioners on the outer rear seats, and Techno interior trim.

THE Laguna has come a long way since it replaced the Renault 21 back in 1994.

Back then it was designed to take on the likes of the Passat, Mondeo and Vectra.

It always has had its share of innovations and been keenly priced, but was often trumped in term of build quality and appeal.

Renault says the new Laguna aims to be in the top three in its segment for both product and service quality and has invested a billion euros to achieve this.

The firm has such confidence in the new model after extensive testing in harsh climates, it is now offering a three-year/100,000 mile warranty on the model.

The Sport Tourer version of the new car follows the hatchback launched in October and joins the battle in one of the most hotly contested areas where there are a number of stylish and practical sportwagons/estates.

It is certainly an elegant derivative of the saloon and is easily as good looking as rivals such as BMW and Audi.

It is bigger than its predecessor, more streamlined with bolder lines new triple lens and distinctive 16 or 18-inch alloy wheels.

Interior space easily accommodates driver and four adults while the boot space offers a generous 1,595 litres of space.

The loading level is a convenient height and there are innovations such as the one-touch luggage cover and one touch controls for lowering the rear seats completely flat. These are particularly helpful for families having to load pushchairs and shopping or golf clubs and DIY equipment.

The interior feels as well put together as German rivals thanks to Renault paying careful attention to the materials used and the standard of fit.

Renault says the design and positioning of all the controls have been rethought to deliver the best visibility and ease of use.

They do feel modern, robust and are logically placed and easy to use.

Driver and passengers are held both firmly and comfortably in the seats and on the road the car handles well and the stiffened body and more rigid suspension aborbs the worst British road can offer with some ease.

The steering could be sharper, but overall the driving experience is good.

The Sport Tourer comes with a choice of 140 and 170bhp two-litre petrol engines and entry level 1.5-litre 110bhp diesel and a two-litre diesel with 130, 150 and 175bhp variants.

Each offers a six-speed gearbox, with a six-speed standard on top range models.

The 1.5 dCi 110 engine qualifies it for Renault’s ‘eco2′ seal of environmental quality.

It also deivers class-leading low carbon dioxide emissions of 130g/km, excellent fuel efficiency of 57.6mpg combined (according to Renault) and more than decent performance.

Given my drive in this and the more powerful 150bhp diesel, the performance enhancement hardly seemed worth the effort of spending the extra cash.

The 140bhp petrol engine also proved a lively performer offering sharp acceleration but also returning nearly 37mpg according to Renault figures.

The Sport Tourer is also available in four trim specifications with Expression, Dynamique, Dynamique S and Initiale.

Prices start from £16,940 for the Expression rising to £24,350 for the Initiale.

The entry-level Expression includes 16-inch alloy wheels, CD-RDS radio, air conditioning, alarm, electric front and rear windows, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, leather-trimmed steering wheel and keyless entry with the Renault Card while the extra goodies increase proportionately with each step up the range.

The Laguna was also first in achieving Euro NCAP five star safety rating and safety is still of paramount importance.

It offers six airbags with rear thorax airbags as an option, ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), assisted braking, anti-lock braking and traction control.

Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007, the Laguna hatch went on sale in October. Sport Tourer models are in showrooms from January 4, 2008.

FOR many years, diesel was the way to go in terms of saving money on car ownership but that might no longer be the case.

With the higher price added to the extra cost of fuel, you have to do a lot of miles every year to gain despite the fact that oil burners hold their value better. Check it out before you buy.

The Renault Scenic is available with three diesel engines and four power outputs, but for most people the 105bhp 1.5 dCi I’ve been driving is the pick of the bunch.

The 80bhp version below it is underpowered, but I found little lacking in this one to make me want to pay the extra for 1.9 or 2.0-litre models.

The engine is smooth and quiet with good urge through the gears and excellent economy.

The ride is very comfortable over all surfaces and it also clings on well in the corners, albeit with some roll when pushed very hard.

Interior

Inside there is storage everywhere, folding picnic tables and rear seats with adjustable legroom.

Supportive front seats have height adjustment for the driver and the steering column adjusts for height and reach. Dynamique trim brings keyless entry and ignition.

FAST FACTS

Renault Scenic 1.5 dCi Dynamique

Price: £18,300

Mechanical: 105bhp, 1,461cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox

Max speed: 111mph

0-62mph: 12.4 secs

Combined mpg: 54

Insurance group: 5

CO2 emissions: 138g/km

BiK rating: 18%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 12 yrs anti-rust

Marks: 9/10

Main rival: Citroen Picasso

I WAS never a fan of the current Renault Laguna – mainly because of a bad experience with electrics on my first road test with it which left me locked out the car on a freezing cold and snowy afternoon waiting on an emergency patrol coming to my rescue.

So the new Laguna, which goes on sale from the 19th of next month, needed to be impressive to get me back on side and it certainly is.

It also has to be good if it wants to compete with Ford’s latest Mondeo which has already lifted its share of awards and is in the running for more.

The French firm is on the record as saying it wants to improve the reliability and driveability of all its products by 2009 and the new Laguna promises to set the tone for all forthcoming models.

The new hatchback’s styling will not set the pulses of many racing but it is a look that grows on you after a while. It features overly large headlights on either side of a new-look nose and the profile is rather slabby. The rear features a very high boot line which makes the car look a bit stumpy but it does conceal a huge and very useful luggage space.

A very good looking Sport Tourer (estate car) will be available to order from later this month and it will arrive in showrooms in January, so if its looks your after this is the one to have.

Renault are so happy with the new model that they have increased their warranty to three years or a 100,000 miles and certainly there is now a solid feel to the car.

The interior is a fine place to be. Renault has spent a great deal of time and cash on the standard of build and materials and it has paid off.

The seats are extremely comfortable and there is enough room for five adults to travel in comfort. The dash is both stylish and functional and the materials are all soft-touch and replace the harsh plastics of the previous model.

There is a real sense of refinement about this new car and it is a very quiet motorway cruiser with very little noise of any kind entering the cabin.

Six speed gearboxes are standard across the range, for both automatic and manual versions and they are mated to a variety of petrol and diesel engines.

The cheapest is the 138bhp 2.0-litre petrol, while there is also a 168bhp 2.0-litre turbo. The three diesel units are a new 1.5-litre which returns 53.3mpg and has very low emissions in order to appeal to company car tax-paying drivers. The 2.0-litre diesel unit comes in two forms, one at 128bhp and the other at 148bhp. Some other new engines will be added next year.

There are four trim levels and combined with the five engines customers have plenty of choice. The starting point is £15,990 on the road and the most expensive £23,400.

In many cases this means savings of up to £500 on some of the old models which is quite remarkable when you consider the improvement in quality.

I had a go at most versions during the launch but found the 1.5 diesel to be my favourite. Its blend of decent performance and economy will be hard to match in this size of car and it will be a winner on fleet sales.

The handling is assured and refined rather than sharp but the new Laguna comes into its own by isolating its occupants from bumps and noise. The steering is responsive and the car features a host of safety features and is liable to continue Renault’s five-star NCAP record.

The new Ford Mondeo is currenty the benchmark in this sector and while the Laguna is a huge improvement on the old model it still can’t match the Ford, either for looks or handling.

What it does do is beat the Ford on price while at the same time offering a refined and comfortable package. It will find a following despite its rather disappointing looks.

IN THE automotive industry, the shape of things to come philosophy has been alive and very well for as long as I can remember.

I can recall sharp intakes of breath at the introduction back in the 50s of the bulbous Standard Vanguard, the sharp-edged shape of the Triumph Mayflower and the round-rumped Renault Dauphine making its innovative appearance.

More recent innovators have included the Ford Focus and Fiat Multipla, each moving away from convention to successfully test the acceptance level of the conservative UK car buyer.

The latest car maker to shape up to this challenge is Renault, translating the design language from the radical-looking Avantime and Vel Satis into their newest kid on the block, the Megane II, which is available from later this month.

Megane II has a hard act to follow in a predecessor which has been a solid performer in the family hatchback league for the past six years.

But this radical innovation is light years away from the current Megane badge-carriers, making a bold statement in five-door Hatch and three-door Sport Hatch form, the first two derivatives of what will eventually be a seven-model range.

Megane II shapes up well from the nose with its two-barred radiator grille adding emphasis to the car’s extra width, through wings which are sharply outlined at the top and shapely flanks, to a truly distinctive rear.

As far as I’m concerned, the jury is still out on this, the Megane’s most radical design feature. The almost vertical drop of the rear window to the curve of the protruding boot mimics the styling of the much bigger, executive sector Renault Avantime. But has this striking piece of architecture transferred effectively to the smaller car? Or, perhaps, “does Megane’s bum look good in this?” may be the burning question for some!

However, beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder and, whichever way you view it, Megane II is going to get you noticed, for this is anything but a look-alike member of the small family car category.

Much creative thought has also gone into an interior which majors on improved quality and extra comfort. Seating is much more supportively comfortable than in the old Megane; there’s an improved driving position, with rake and reach adjustment on the steering column, increased footwell space and, while the centre console features a much sportier look, the instrument dials are distinctively picked out with aluminium finish rings.

On board, there are plenty of storage spaces including out of sight stowage areas in a boot which is actually shorter than in its predecessor, a cooled glovebox, plus the obligatory cup-holders and, while the aircraft-style handbrake may look a little gimicky, it is functional, too, freeing up space for an additional storage box.

A wider body means a more manoeuvrably roomy interior, particular in terms of shoulder space – however, the optional twin sunroof may limit headroom for some, while rear legroom could also have its limitations.

Five engine options will be available when the car first hits the showrooms – three 16-valve petrol (1.4-litre, 1.6 and 2.0) and a brace of diesels, 1.5-litre and 1.9 – while trim levels are also five-fold – Authentique, Expression, Dynamique and Priviledge for the five-door, Dynamique and Extreme in the three .

At the car’s Press launch, I particularly enjoyed the 1.9-litre diesel-powered Dynamique Five-Door Hatchback. Paired up with a six-speed Nissan gearbox and rated at 120bhp, it effortlessly ate up the motorway miles, and produced some solid low-down pulling power when required and all performed in extremely economical fashion, this version being capable of around the 50mpg mark for a combination of town and country driving.

Despite tickover reminders of its oil-burning heritage, progress proved a pretty refined affair, this Megane II, mounted on 16-inch alloys, providing an enjoyably comfortable ride, courtesy of a reworked suspension system and improved torsional control. Wider tracking also helps to provide a much more dynamically agile performance, although I would perhaps have appreciated a little more communication from the electric power steering!

Equipment levels are good on board the Megane II Dynamique, with half a dozen air bags, ABS Braking and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) plus Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) all on hand to assist the unwise and the unwary, while manual air con, electric windows and six-speaker CD head the list in the comfort zone.

A further boon to the diesel driver in particular is Renault’s adoption of the Formula 1-style fuel filler featuring a non-return valve under the fuel flap which makes gassing up a much more user-friendly process.

The Megane II Hatch and Sport Hatch are to be followed next year by a pair of new Scenics, a Coupe Cabrio, Sport Tourer and Saloon versions.

In the meantime, these first versions are on sale from October 18, at prices from £10,500 for the entry level 1.4-litre Hatch Authentique, rising through £12,745 for the 1.9-litre diesel Dynamique to the flagship Hatch Privilege at £15,700. Insurance groupings are also wallet-friendly, starting at Group 3E.

Megane II is an extremely bold move by Renault to make even further progress in a hotly contested sector stalked by the likes of the Ford Focus, VW Golf and Honda Civic.

But this is a Hatchback like you have never seen before and, with Renault targeting 31,000 new owners in the first full year of sale, Megane II is certainly going to be a shape successfully designed to grow on you.

DEPRECIATION is not heavy on Renault‘s Espace because they are so sought after and there are plenty of reasons for that.

They are hugely versatile of course and very practical, easy to drive and good to live with. But they are also pretty huge, although they don’t feel that size from the driver’s seat.

Petrol 2.0, 2.9 and three-litre models are all pretty thirsty and the lowliest two-litre 115bhp is a little underpowered for the size and weight. The 140bhp version is much better.

Turbo diesels are 115 and 130bhp 2.2, plus 1.9 and three-litre V6. The 2.2 is the best choice for performance with economy, giving similar performance to the two-litre petrol and 35-39mpg.

Reliability is good as long as the proper servicing has been done, so make sure that history is comprehensive and if there is none, do not touch with a barge pole.

Equipment is good to excellent depending on trim.

Interior

Not all have seven seats. The extra two were an option on some but the mountings are in the floor to add them.

An upright driving position gives great vision, power steering is excellent but interiors show wear and tear if harshly treated. Space is vast, but rear seats are heavy and very awkward to take out.

FAST FACTS

Renault Espace 2.2 D-T and dCi

Price: About £4,700 should get a ’98 R-reg RT-X, £8500 for an ’02 02-reg dCi Expression, or £17,000 for an ’04 04-reg Privilege.

Mechanical: 115 or later 140bhp, 2,186cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 5 or 6spd manual gearbox

Max speed: 114mph

0-62mph: secs

Combined mpg: 31-39.

Insurance group: 13.

Marks out of 10: 9

Main rival: Ford Galaxy

DEPRECIATION is not heavy on Renault‘s Espace because they are so sought after and there are plenty of reasons for that.

They are hugely versatile of course and very practical, easy to drive and good to live with. But they are also pretty huge, although they don’t feel that size from the driver’s seat.

Petrol 2.0, 2.9 and three-litre models are all pretty thirsty and the lowliest two-litre 115bhp is a little underpowered for the size and weight. The 140bhp version is much better.

Turbo diesels are 115 and 130bhp 2.2, plus 1.9 and three-litre V6. The 2.2 is the best choice for performance with economy, giving similar performance to the two-litre petrol and 35-39mpg.

Reliability is good as long as the proper servicing has been done, so make sure that history is comprehensive and if there is none, do not touch with a barge pole.

Equipment is good to excellent depending on trim.

Interior

Not all have seven seats. The extra two were an option on some but the mountings are in the floor to add them.

An upright driving position gives great vision, power steering is excellent but interiors show wear and tear if harshly treated. Space is vast, but rear seats are heavy and very awkward to take out.

FAST FACTS

Renault Espace 2.2 D-T and dCi

Price: About £4,700 should get a ’98 R-reg RT-X, £8500 for an ’02 02-reg dCi Expression, or £17,000 for an ’04 04-reg Privilege.

Mechanical: 115 or later 140bhp, 2,186cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 5 or 6spd manual gearbox

Max speed: 114mph

0-62mph: secs

Combined mpg: 31-39.

Insurance group: 13.

Marks out of 10: 9

Main rival: Ford Galaxy

Renault Facebook

THE move towards smaller, more economical cars is revealed in the latest UK sales figures as Renault announces that it is about to replace its best-selling Clio supermini with an all-new model to cater for the drivers who are downsizing in droves.

The January sales figures, which have just been released, show that companies specialising in smaller cars and those with ultra-economical engines are among those performing best in the current economic climate.

The only car companies to increase sales here last month were Hyundai and Jaguar although Nissan achieved the smallest decline with a drop of just three percent in comparison to a fall of 30 per cent for the market as a whole.

Jaguar has added diesel-powered models to its line up, with the X-Type averaging almost 50mpg and even the larger XF and XJ models exceeding 30mpg.

Hyundai says that there is now a virtual clamour for its smallest and most economical models, with a 33 per cent increase to private buyers in January.

The biggest sellers last month were the smallest i10 model followed by the i30 and the run-out Getz, which was snapped up at bargain-basement prices ahead of its replacement by the all-new i20.

Hyundai UK’s managing director Tony Whitehorn says: ‘The economic conditions have meant that buyers are researching far more before making buying decisions.

‘They are reading press reports and comparing specification, prices and warranties before making a commitment.’

Renault is hoping that by introducing an all-new Clio range it can arrest the sales decline of 59 per cent that it experienced last month.

The newcomer will be seen for the first time at next month’s Geneva motorshow and the French firm says it will endeavour to get stocks to UK dealers as quickly as possible and certainly within a matter of weeks.

In a bid to cater for the growing number of motorists downsizing to superminis from compact and medium-size models the new Clio will gain “executive” equipment and there will be a new GT-looking version for drivers used to more powerful models.

Equipment such as a sophisticated satellite navigation system will be on offer across the range, which currently is only available on one model at a cost of almost £1,000.

In the new Clio it will cost less than half that and will be a fully integrated system with a 5.8-inch colour screen with birds-eye view maps, updatable traffic, speed camera locations and prevailing speed limits.

There will also be more upmarket trim, materials and other equipment to ease the pain of drivers downsizing from larger, more expensive models.

The new GT version will use the same ultra-economical and low polluting engines as the rest of the range but will be designed to cater for drivers who wish to be seen in a car of greater status than its size suggests.

There will be different frontal styling with a gloss black grille plus extended side sills, sports suspension settings, twin exhaust tailpipes, lip spoiler and a distinctive new body colour of Malta Blue.

Renault has taken the car world by surprise with the unveiling in Britain of a stunning new four-seater coupe model.

Working under design guru Patrick le Quement, the French company’s stylists have been secretly working on the sleek, new flagship coupe since March last year and work was only completed on June 1 when the car – codenamed Z16 – was wheeled out of the workshop for the first time.

And the French company has taken the unusual step of showing it to the world for the first time it in the UK – at this week’s Louis Vuitton Classic concours d’elegance.

Le Quement – the man responsible for the controversial bustle-tailed design of the Renault Vel Satis and Megane – says the new car, now named the Fluence, is an example of the third phase of Renault’s unfolding design strategy and calls it “the continuation of a long tradition of outstanding French coachbuilders.”

Although described as a concept car, it is a fully working model and is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine. Mounted transversely, it develops 280bhp and sends power to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential control. It has a claimed 0-62mph sprint time of 6.5 seconds.

In terms of size it is roughly the same length as a Nissan Primera hatchback, at 4,600mm, and is a full four seater. Among its novel features are a rear tailgate which slides over the roof on an articulated arm, rather than using conventional top hinges.

Other features include a glass roof, an unusually distinctive rear end and a radically designed interior.

Take away some of the more radical items and this is yet another Renault concept which looks largely capable of being put into production. But Renault will neither confirm nor deny speculation that the car will become a production reality and is likely to tout round motor shows this autumn to gauge public reactionn before making a decision.

All Patrick le Quement will say about the future of a car which he calls “a beautiful adventure” is: “I can assure you that this car will have a certain influence on the stylistic signature of our next cars.”

Renault has scooped the European Car of the Year title for the sixth time, with the 2006 prize going to the new Clio.

The mark 3 version of the French supermini won ahead of the Volkswagen Passat, Alfa Romeo 159, BMW 3 Series, Mazda 5, Citroen C1/Peugeot 107/Toyota Aygo and the Toyota Yaris.

The jury of 58 motoring journalists from 22 European countries had been tipped to choose the Citroen, Peugeot and Toyota city car clones.

In the end the Clio scored 256 points, just five ahead of the Passat, with the Alfa Romeo 159 in third place with 212 points.

In total there were 28 new cars in the running for the top title, which is worth a mint to the winner in terms of free advertising and promotion.

The latest incarnation of the Clio is said to redefine the standards of the small-car segment with unrivalled cabin space, excellent road-holding and an impressive level of fit and finish.

The Clio was recently awarded five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests, which is another important selling point.

It is the sixth time Renault has won the Car of the Year award with the others being the Renault 16 in 1966, followed by the Renault 9 in 1982, the original Clio in 1991, Megane Scenic in 1997 and the Megane II in 2003.