Laguna Coupé Monaco GP

When was the last time you saw a Renault Laguna Coupé? Probably a long time ago, if at all. The problem for the French firm is that most coupé buyers are image conscious, and so they must have a prestigious badge on their stylish car. Therefore, they invariably just follow the herd and head straight to their nearest BMW, Audi or Volkswagen dealer.



Which is a shame, because the Laguna Coupé is a very good looking car. Nevertheless, Renault is fighting back with its Monaco GP limited edition.

Available only in Pearlescent White metallic paint with a contrasting Pearl Black roof, the car comes equipped with black 18" Interlagos alloy wheels and matching folding door mirrors. Handily, there are front and rear parking sensors to help prevent that paintwork getting scraped or scratched.

The inside features dark grey leather upholstery with Monaco GP logos, together with gloss white inserts for the dash, centre console and door panels. Bluetooth, a BOSE sound system, electric / heated front seats, tyre pressure monitoring and integrated Carminat TomTom satellite navigation are all standard.

Despite the Grand Prix associations, the only engine choice is a 2.0 litre diesel engine. Consequently performance is fairly leisurely, with a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration time of 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 222 km/h (138 mph).



But that link to the Monaco GP is a bit tenuous anyway. Renault is saying - apparently in all seriousness - that this limited edition ‘recalls Renault F1 Team’s most recent wins there in 2004 and 2006’. Quite a delay in producing a commemorative car, then. And the ‘most recent wins’ part is a little misleading too - they’re actually the only Monaco victories Renault has had as a constructor, although Michael Schumacher’s 1995 race-winning Benetton did have a Renault engine in it.



The Renault Laguna Coupé Monaco GP limited edition will be priced at £24,995 in the UK, which represents a saving of £5,200 compared to buying a Coupé GT and adding the options individually. Deliveries are planned to start in July, and orders are being taken now.