Sharp Renault Geneva star revealed

The 2008 Geneva expo is just a few hours old but Renault has already stolen the show with this – the Mégane Coupe Concept.Previewing the all-new family car range, which arrives in the UK later this year, it’s a stunning sports car that truly follows in the footsteps of the recently revealed Laguna Coupe.Constructed almost entirely from carbon fibre, it features dragon-fly doors – so called because they open in two sections and are mounted on a central crossbeam – light-reflective paint and a sleek body that looks more Alfa Romeo than Renault.Under the bonnet lies a 205bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while inside the cabin gets seats that are built into the bodywork along with personal MP4 players fixed to the front headrests.

Set to spawn an entire range of family cars, the next-generation Mégane will be available first in five-door form, while this concept will inspire a three-door model. It will sit apart from its sister car, just as Vauxhall has done with the Astra Sport Hatch and Kia with the Cee’d and Pro_cee’d. “We’re really going back to the Mégane’s roots,” said a spokesman for the French firm. “The first-generation model was a proper three-door coupe and this will be the same.”

The production version will be seen at the Paris Motor Show in September, with UK sales starting before the end of the year.Source

Renault Grand Modus

Enlarged Modus is a worthy addition to the range.

Driving
Light but responsive steering and a slick five-speed gearbox mean the Grand Modus is perfect for nipping around town. The ride is smooth and comfortable, and while the car is unsettled by really big bumps, for the most part it is easy to drive and uncomplicated. The key engine is the 1.2-litre TCE, a 100bhp turbo petrol engine. This replaced the old 1.4-litre – yet while it offers decent pace and economy, in our experience the larger 1.5-litre dCi diesels offer even lower consumption, while providing even more shove throughout the rev range.

Marketplace
The Grand Modus has grown up, and promises to put right the wrongs of its smaller sibling, for a premium of £600 over the base car. It was launched with a facelifted version of the original car in early 2008, taking inspiration from Grand versions of the Espace and Scenic – offering a bigger boot and more practical seating. It has similar styling to the standard car, so received new headlights and other tweaks with the 2008 facelift. Two trims are available, Expression and Dynamique, with a choice of five engines; the 1.2-litre petrol in non-turbo and TCE turbo form, an auto-only 1.6-litre, plus 1.5 dCi diesels in 86 and 106 guise. The dCi 86 can be mated to a ‘Quickshift5’ semi-auto gearbox.

Owning
By adding 93mm to the wheelbase and 160mm to the length, Renault had given the Grand extra space in the rear, meaning three can fit comfortably. There is 117 litres more boot space, boosted to 1,454 litres when the sliding rear bench is folded flat. The cabin is basic but well built, with lots of clever storage spaces and an elevated driving position that offers good visibility. All Grand Modus variants have standard air con, helping keep the glassy cabin cool. However, while it’s well-equipped and decent value – as well as being more practical than the standard car – the Grand Modus still suffers from the unimpressive retained values of the standard car. For best returns after three years, go for the diesels, which may cost more but also return excellent fuel economy figures of over 60mpg on the official cycle.Source

• Rating:
• On the road price: £10,250 - £13,400
• For : Large boot, rear cabin space, overall improvements over standard Modus
• Against : Retained values, price premium for diesels

Renault Clio Renaultsport 197 Cup

The Cup is one of the most involving hot hatchbacks money can buy.

Driving
On twisty roads, the Cup is a thoroughbred hot hatch. There’s a hard-edged, race-inspired accuracy to it. Body roll is virtually eliminated and there’s masses of grip, which makes it very reassuring to drive at the limit. It turns in quickly too, but the slightly artificial assistance isn’t as pure as other more communicative rivals. While there aren’t huge differences between this and the standard 197 chassis, either, it does feel more finely honed, and grip levels are even higher. The firmer damping hasn’t affected the ride, though: it’s still harsh around town and jittery on the motorway. The 2.0-litre engine remains inflexible, too: you have to work it hard. But the racy nature is exciting, as is the howling, buzzing engine note all the way to the 7500rpm redline.

Marketplace
With its wider front track and bulging wheelarches, the RenaultSport Clio 197 is one of the most attractive and purposeful hot hatchbacks around. To the rear diffuser and vents behind the front wheels, the Cup drops the ride height by 7mm, though our test car included the optional roof-mounted spoiler taken from the race car. Add in optional while paint and black wheels, and the Renault looks stunning. Priced £1,000 below the standard 197, the Cup is designed for those who value driver appeal above all else – and loses key standard equipment to save weight. None of this, apart from the lack of air con, matters: and that can be added for £525. More importantly, stability control is standard. Rivals include the Vauxhall Corsa VXR, Peugeot 207 GTI and MINI Cooper S, but no competitor offers such a focused, stripped-out alternative like the Cup.

Owning
The Cup’s more basic interior is the same as in entry-level Clios, which means you lose keyless entry and starting, plus the soft-touch plastics of more luxurious variants (and the standard 197). The basics are spot-on though. The seating position is excellent, with a broad range of adjustment on the wheel and well-placed pedals and gearlever. The optional Recaro seats are fantastic, too – a real must-have. As they’re mounted low, there’s ample space around the driver as well. Retained values are impressive, with the Cup holding on to over 45 per cent of its list price: that’s the same as some premium saloons. The Clio’s economy won’t win any awards, though; the official figure is 33.2mpg, and it averaged 27mpg during testing with us.Source

• Rating:
• On the road price: £14,995
• For : Well-engineered thoroughbred, enthralling experience, low price
• Against : Basic interior, lack of standard air con, uncomfortable when cruising