| All-new model preview | 2008 Monaco Grand Prix | 2009 Renault Laguna Coupé |

While Renault's Formula One team had little to sing about in the rain of the Monaco Grand Prix, the French car maker was busy singing the praises of its new Laguna Coupé. The two-door Laguna made its debut at the step of the Cannes Film Festival before heading to the world's oldest Grand Prix circuit in the hands of the F1 team's two test drivers.

Renault will officially launch the Laguna coupe at the Paris motor show in October, but visitors to Monaco were treated to an early sight of the car. The four-seater is Renault's first foray into the coupe market since the unsuccessful Avantime.

When the new Coupé goes on sale shortly after the Paris show, it will share its chassis with the Laguna GT hatch and estate, complete with its Active Drive four-wheel steering. This allows the rear wheels to move slightly to aid direction change at lower speeds and stability at higher speeds.

Two new V6 engines will appear in the Laguna Coupé. A 3.5-litre petrol V6 will have 240bhp, while the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel sports 235bhp and 331lb.ft of torque. No performance figures have been released by Renault yet, but the company says both cars will come with a new six-speed automatic gearbox and go from 0-62mph in less than seven seconds.

Renault says the Laguna Coupé will spearhead a renewed push upmarket by the French firm and the Coupé will feature a long list of standard luxury equipment.

Alisdair Suttie - 26 May 2008