Renault Laguna Coupé Concept

Described as embodying Renault’s vision of a top-of-the-range grand tourer Coupé, the Laguna Coupé Concept strives to exude a mix of power and refinement through its flowing profile, long-nose and very short rear overhang backed by a newly developed 170-195kW (230-265hp) V6 dCi powertrain and Four-wheel Active Drive chassis.

The new 2,993cc V6 dCi block - a result of close collaboration with Nissan - delivers a peak output of 170-195kW (230-265hp) and a maximum torque of 450-550Nm, depending on the version. It achieves 0-100kph in only seven seconds and drives through a 6-speed automatic transmission delivering a mix of performance, controlled fuel consumption and CO2 emissions lower than 200g/km.

Built on the same platform as New Laguna, Laguna Coupé Concept is designed to affirm the company’s long tradition of classic coupés. The look and lines of Laguna Coupé Concept share a common bond with the Fluence concept car (2004). Measuring 4.685m in length, the car’s aerodynamic crease lines rise from below the grille then up on to the car’s flanks to underline the wings before sweeping to the rear of the car where they come together over the boot, highlighting the muscularity of car’s shoulders.

On the exterior, the low, wide aluminum grille is visually original and its centrally-ribbed bonnet springs straight from the world of Coupé grand tourers. Its front end houses two headlamp units that stretch back along the front fenders. Premiered on the Nepta concept car in 2006, the LED headlamps use a technology based on the reflection and propagation of light. The light beams from the main headlamps are reflected by crystal-shaped transparent blocks. The intensity and distribution of the light automatically adapts to the driving conditions.

Encased in the bodywork, the rear lamps are further emphasized by the flowing crease lines which run above and parallel to them before converging towards the full-length glass roof which tapers down towards a central tail panel. Through the roof’s glazed area the third stop light can be seen, giving off a soft-focus glow the mirrors the pattern of the rear lights.

The two frameless doors boast their own lights and open on to a totally original cabin. The scissor doors have dedicated Stabilus hydraulic door stays, which hold doors open at any angle. The door sills are ideally placed to help occupants ease themselves in and out of their seats. They bear the etched acronym ‘4RD’ (French for four wheel steering), which denotes the Active Drive chassis.

The Laguna Coupé Concept’s cabin features a waveshape central strip while two side vents close off a long airconditioning strip that runs the entire width of the windscreen. A large screen in the center of the dashboard stretches out towards the lateral vents, which are styled to resemble jet plane nozzles. Apart from journey information displays (navigation, radio, music players, video, and Bluetooth phone kit), the screen also displays ambient images inspired by the science of light therapy. Designed for intuitive use, the air-conditioning controls are located in the center of the dashboard, in an easily identifiable dedicated section framed by vents. Instrumentation is made up of two analogue and digital binnacles in the driver’s line of sight. The binnacles are capped by a porous cowling that lets the light pass and with their mat-finish aluminum surrounds.

The roof, dashboard, central tunnel, and the lower section of the door panels are covered with grey faux leather, whereas the seats and other elements (door pillars, instrument cluster cowling, top of the central armrest) are covered in leather with copper and metal highlights and copper-colored stitching. Laguna Coupé Concept’s floor is covered with a protective, metal mesh.

Both front and rear seats are asymmetrical and separate with rear passengers able to watch the Samsung multimedia players housed in the back of the front seats. The long central tunnel, which houses the slim-style gear lever, the Start/Stop button, and the backlit navigation controls, acts as a link joining front and rear.

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