| First Drive | Nice, France | Renault Wind |

Not content with the recent launch of the Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet, Renault has introduced yet another convertible with a folding hard-top - the Wind. With a name like that, the French company is leaving itself wide open for all manner of flatulence jokes, but we'll leave the other publications to take care of the puns.

Based on the diminutive Twingo hatchback, the Wind is the smallest drop-top in Renault's range. While there are no visual similarities between the two, the engines and underpinnings are virtually identical, but the body and roof mechanism are bespoke.

In the Metal

The Wind is quite a looker. The angular grille and air intakes and the blue-tinged, diamond-like headlamps give it hint of Lamborghini, while the unusual, raised rump with boomerang tail lights, is very pleasing to the eye.

The cabin isn't anything to write home about, though. The company claims that the instruments are reminiscent of the 'world of motorbikes', but it's hard to see how. The interior is loaded with familiar Renault switchgear and the materials aren't of the highest quality, but for what it costs, that's about acceptable. The dash doesn't seem like it's about to fall apart, it's just a little on the cheap side.

Big news is that the Wind's slick folding hard-top can open or close in just 12 seconds - a class best, apparently. With the lid up, you simply pull and twist the circular handle located just above your head, press and hold a switch in front of the gear stick and let the tin top quietly fold away.

It's all very smooth and quick and there's even a short beep from the sound system to let you know that it's finished. What's more, boot space remains at 270 litres, whether the roof is up or down.

What you get for your Money

Prices start at £15,500 and top out at £18,200, which is hardly expensive for a convertible. The Wind comfortably undercuts the likes of the Mazda MX-5 and the Peugeot 207 CC, which it needs to do if it's to succeed.

Equipment levels aren't bad either, as the entry-level Dynamique model has 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, electric mirrors, front fog lights and a CD/mp3 stereo. Dynamique S includes 17-inch alloys, automatic headlamps and wipers, climate control and Bluetooth.

A limited run of 200 Collection models will make it to the UK, too. These come with goodies like heated leather seats, a gloss black roof and other fashionable trinkets.

As you'd expect, Renault has decked the Wind out with its fair share of safety kit. All models come with twin front and lateral airbags, ESP, ABS with EBD, brake assist, as well as an immobiliser and deadlocks. All the safety clobber and the rigid chassis actually make the Wind heavier than a Mazda MX-5, though.

Driving it

The Wind is available with a choice of two engines: a 131bhp 1.6-litre unit borrowed from the RenaultSport Twingo 133 and a 99bhp 1.2-litre TCe lump. Perhaps surprisingly, it's the latter engine that suits the car best.

As good as the 1.6 is in the RenaultSport Twingo, it lacks the low-down torque to haul the bulkier Wind along at low speed. Drive it hard and the engine responds well, as is typical of a 16-valve four-cylinder engine, but you really need to cane it to get any kind of performance. Its only saving grace is the pleasant rasp that constantly floats from the tailpipe.

In contrast, the 1.2-litre TCe 100 engine complements the Wind far better. Sure, it has less poke, but the power is much more accessible and there's no need to drive like a loon to get it going. It's not fast, nor does it make as good a noise as the 1.6, but it's nippy and suits the car's character.

As you'd expect from a Renault, the Wind is light on its feet and the steering is responsive and reasonably accurate. The brakes, however, are a little iffy. They have enough bite, but the ABS and EBD are very quick to kick in and you can constantly hear them grinding away.

Worth Noting

The Wind was actually farmed out to RenaultSport for development, which is probably why the handling is pretty good. There were obviously a fair few 1.6-litre 133 engines from the Twingo kicking around, too.

Don't expect any more engine options, though. Renault claims that there is no market for a diesel-engined Wind, so an oil-burner is not on the cards. The small choice of engines and the large number of components borrowed from the Twingo has obviously helped to keep costs - and the final price - down, and it's likely to stay that way.

Summary

If it's a driver's car you're after then the Mazda MX-5 is by far the better choice. However, for what it costs, the Renault Wind isn't bad. It's hard to knock the low purchase price and the running costs are equally good: 40.3mpg for the 1.6 and 44.8mpg for the 1.2 with emissions of 165- and 145g/km respectively.

It's certainly a looker and will no doubt go down well with the young, image conscious types that Renault expects to sell it to. The company reckons that most buyers will be aged between 25 and 45 and many will already own a convertible. Top brass wouldn't let slip how many they expect to sell though, which suggests that they probably have modest aspirations for the Wind in the UK.