| Pricing announcement | UK market | Renault Laguna GT |
This week we'll be bringing you our first driving impressions of Renault's new Laguna GT with its Active Drive chassis, but in the mean time here are the prices and specifications of the car that goes on sale in the UK from 9 May.
The GT spec will be on offer in the hatch and Sport Tourer estate, with prices starting at £21,050 and £22,000 respectively. Both models will have the choice of a 202bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine or a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 178bhp, which are both new additions to the Laguna range.
With the petrol engine, the Laguna GT covers 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds for the hatch and 8.5 seconds for the Sport Tourer. The diesel versions manage this in 8.0 and 8.7 seconds, and the have CO2 emissions of 172 and 177g/km for the hatch and estate respectively. The petrol models have emissions of 194 and 196g/km.
A larger front grille and air intakes at either side of the front bumper mark out the Laguna GT, while 18-inch alloy wheels, smoked rear light clusters and a black background for the headlights are also standard. The interior has leather and Alcantara seats with the GT logo, aluminium pedals and gearknob, and a unique GT steering wheel.
The Active Drive system introduces four-wheel steering to the Laguna range, which works by electrically altering the direction of the rear wheels to help the car turn more readily. At speeds below 38mph, the rear wheels move in the opposite direction to the front wheels, which helps when turning tight corners or parking.
Above 38mph, the rear wheels move in the same direction as the front wheels when the steering wheel is turned. Renault says this improves stability at high speeds and helps prevent the rear wheels from running wide in fast corners.
Renault has admitted that V6 petrol and diesel engines are also on the way for the Laguna, which will test the Active Drive chassis further, and we expect it to be standard on the forthcoming Laguna Coupé. There's no word on its fitment to the all-new Mégane as yet.
Alisdair Suttie - 9 Apr 2008
