Renault has chosen the Geneva Motor Show to take the wraps off its Mégane Coupé Concept show car which foreshadows a compact production coupe to be released at a later date. Like New Laguna, it points to an evolution towards more fluid, sportier styling from Renault.

Mégane Coupé Concept targets drivers who are not only drawn by the notion of driving pleasure but who also seek to express their personality through their vehicle. Mégane Coupé Concept symbolizes Renault's vision of what a genuine compactsports coupe should deliver, namely character and dynamism, two traits epitomized by the show car's unprecedented door-opening kinematics. With distinctive looks that exude personality and dynamism, Mégane Coupé Concept provides a foretaste of the forthcoming Mégane Coupe. With modern and intuitive equipment, the cabin is a compelling extension of the exterior's dynamic voluptuousness.

Mégane Coupé Concept is a compact, stylish, dynamic coupe which delivers undeniable driving pleasure, while its sporty calling is also expressed by its modern, elegant cabin. This show car, which builds on the trend established by Laguna Coupé Concept, sees Renault take its will to dial genuine passion into its cars yet another step forward.

Renault is pleased to present Koleos, its first ever crossover. Ideal for escaping the everyday routine,Renault Koleos is comfortable, easy to drive and boasts genuine off-road ability. It has been designed to be versatile, too, offering the same reassuring drive when motoring in and about town, on open roads and on motorways as it does when it is taken off the beaten track.

Meanwhile, Renault Koleos delivers the same standard of comfort as that expected of a saloon car, as well as cabin space worthy of a compact MPV. Designed by Renault, developed by Nissan and manufactured in Renault Samsung Motors' Busan plant in Korea, Renault Koleos is the fruit of extremely close collaboration between teams from each of these Renault-Nissan Alliance brands.

The launch of Koleos marks a decisive step in the brand's development, not only in Europe but across the world. The release of its first 4x4 crossover is a sure sign that Renault has the capacity to take its own authentic stance and a completely fresh approach in segments from which it has traditionally been absent. Renault Koleos offers a unique standard of safety and comfort, a parameter that has become a recognised Renault hallmark which is not only clear for all tosee but also highly affordable.

Stylish, expressive Renault Laguna GT introduces the new Active Drive chassis with four-wheel steering (4WS), developed jointly by Renault and Renault Sport Technologies to yield the ultimate in driving pleasure, as regards handling, response and precision. With a choice of two exclusive high-performance engines (180 and 205hp), Renault Laguna GT makes a sparkling entry into the select field of sports tourers.

With its distinctive sleek design, Renault Laguna GT innovates on the sporting saloon market, offering a unique combination of driving pleasure, peace of mind and affordability, backed by a three-year (or 150,000 km) warranty.

Twingo Renault Sport is a high-performance, affordable entry point into the Renault Sport range. Compact proportions and sharp styling echo the Twingo Concept show car which was a star of the 2006 Paris Motor Show. The balanced, sporty handling of Twingo Renault Sport combines driving enjoyment, sports performance and impeccable safety. The two Renault Sport chassis on offer (sport and Cup) both feature wider front and rear track.

The standard ESP can be manually deactivated, ensuring the car is easy to use on a day-to-day basis while maintaining its sporty credentials. Twingo Renault Sport is powered by a normally aspirated 1.6 litre 16V engine developed by Renault Sport Technologies. The engine pumps out 133hp (98kW) at 6,750rpm with 160Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. The four-into-one exhaust is a technological marvel, striking a perfect balance between acoustics, performance and emissions.

Twingo Renault Sport, Clio Renault Sport and Mégane Renault Sport combine the poise and performance of top line sports cars. They all benefit also from the international awareness generated by Renault’s success in competitive motor sport. Extracting genuine sporting performance from mass production cars: Renault’s philosophy has become a company tradition, and it’s about much more than a few extra brake horsepower.

These outstanding cars, born out of the Clio, Mégane and now Twingo ranges, have been reworked by Renault’s finest experts and engineers. They have tackled the demands of competitive motor sport, for the quintessential sports driving experience. The Renault Sport range employs technology developed thanks to Renault’s experience in Formula 1.

The World Series by Renault is a motoring event that not only showcases world class racing but also provides a highly entertaining day out for all the family. Some 1,900,000 spectators have already attended the meetings held since 2005 and the three fiercely-fought, top-flight championships that figure on the programme ensure that every encounter has been a resounding success.

These meetings are all-Renault affairs which provide the sales and communication departments with a tool that generates

exceptional traffic and visibility for the brand. In addition to the rounds of the three international championships that feature at each meeting, rounds of national series are also organised.

On 31 January 2008 next to Paris, the ING Renault F1 Team officially launched its season as it revealed the brand new Renault F1 R28 and its driver line-up: Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet. The team announced its determination to return to the front of the F1 field in 2008. The ING Renault F1 Team’s hopes for the 2008 reason rest on the all-new Renault F1 R28.

The new car represents a shift in design philosophy from its predecessor, in order to extract optimum performance from the Bridgestone tyres that all competitors have used since the start of 2007 and to correct R27’s failings. The ING Renault F1 Team enters the 2008 season in rude health, following substantial technology investments by Renault SA during 2007 and the acquisition of new commercial partners for 2008.

With New Laguna’s 5-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating in December 2007, Renault confirmed its expertise in automobile passive safety by becoming the only automaker to have scored top marks nine times.

A beacon in road safety for more than 50 years, Renault has built its approach on real-world safety, designing products and systems that match the realities of driving on roads throughout the world. It has prioritized technologies which 'prevent, correct, and protect' the most effectively and has incorporated them across its line-up. Practical applications can be seen in the safety technology showcased on Renault's stand at the Geneva Motor Show.

As part of the Renault Commitment 2009 plan, Renault has set itself the ambitious environmental goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions founded on three major objectives:

- To be one the world’s three most carbon-efficient carmakers

- To have a line-up of biofuel-compatible vehicles

- To develop a range of alternative technologies.

Renault began acting on its CO2 pledge in 2007 by bringing to market models that can run on biofuels (E85 ethanol and B30biodiesel) or powered by downsized powerplants (100hp 1.2-litre TCE petrol engine and New Laguna’s 110hp, 1.5-litre dCi diesel unit). It pursued its efforts with the introduction in spring 2007 of the Renault eco² appellation which it applies to its most environmentally friendly vehicles.

In November 2007 Renault entered Logan Renault eco² Concept in the Michelin-organised Challenge Bibendum, demonstrating that a car can be both ecological and economical, while maintaining high standards on both the performance and driveability fronts. Renault has continued its strategy, announcing in January 2008 that the Renault-Nissan Alliance is to seal a deal with Project Better Place to develop an electric vehicle (EV).

The partnership paves the way for the EV to break into the Israeli market as part of an effort to achieve significant reductions in pollutant emissions (e.g. particulates, NOx) and CO2. The agreement exemplifies the group’s ambitious environmental policy and spells the arrival of EVs on a mass market by 2011.

Other projects have further strengthened the lifecycle management commitment that Renault undertook many years ago and which forms an integral part of the Renault eco² appellation. In February 2008, it created the Renault Environment Business Unit to facilitate the domestic and international deployment of action in recycling and new areas of environmental protection.

We also announced our plans to sign a contract creating a joint-venture company with SITA, a subsidiary of Suez Environnement. The jointventure, the first of its kind in the world, aims to accelerate the incorporation of end-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycling into operations. 

- Renault, also photos