Renault Laguna GT

LE GRAND TOUR
The GT versions of Renault’s Laguna aim to convince UK buyers that this model can take the fight to more focused medium range cars. Andy Enright thinks it’ll be a tough assignment.

Quick. Name a sporty Renault Laguna. I’ll bet that you can’t. Meganes and Clios, no problem, but a properly sporty Laguna just hasn’t happened yet. Renault thinks it can change all that with the latest Laguna GT, powered with either 180 or 205bhp engines. With four-wheel steer, the GT is certainly nimble but it faces an uphill battle convincing British buyers of its talents.

When it comes to building sporting cars, few mainstream manufacturers have had as many hits on their hands as Renault. Their back catalogue is stuffed with some real gems; cars like the 5 Turbo II and the GT Turbo, the Clio Williams and Clio 172, 182, 197 and V6 variants, the Megane Renaultsport, the Sport Spider, the Alpine A110, A310, A610 and GTA models and even less acclaimed stuff like the 17 Gordini and the 19 16v – all were fun cars. At this point, you may well notice that, despite having been in production in three main iterations since 1994, there’s no Laguna in that list: and with good reason.

While Renault has turned out some decently rapid Laguna models in the past, they’ve always been long distance mile-munchers rather than anything to get your pulse racing. The latest GT model promises much, but is unlikely to trouble the list of the all-time great Renault sporting cars.

Two engines for the GT are available. There’s a diesel that features a 180bhp 2.0-litre dCi engine and fronts up with an impressive 400Nm of torque. This will get it to 60mph in 8.2 seconds. Alternatively, buyers can opt for a 2.0-litre 16v petrol engine that cranks out 205bhp and will get to 60 in just 7.5 seconds. So far, so reasonable. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Laguna GT is what’s going on at the back wheels. No, it isn’t four-wheel drive, but the back wheels aren’t there as mere accessories to keep its derriere from dragging. Renault has developed a clever four-wheel steer system that significantly increases the car’s manoeuvrability and agility.
The Active Drive Chassis turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the fronts at angles of up to 3.5 degrees at speed of up to 38mph. This creates a pivot point in the middle of the car, bringing a smaller turning circle and less steering input required. Above 38mph, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the fronts to increase precision, setting the rear axle on a more effective trajectory. Rather reassuringly, the stability control electronics have been specially optimised to work in conjunction with the Active Drive Chassis.

"The Laguna GT isn’t the most immediately appealing car, but do your homework and it might well prove to be an unexpected gem…."

The Laguna GT features a revised front bumper with a bigger front grille featuring lateral air intakes and black background headlights to give it a much meaner face than the standard Laguna. Eighteen-inch Celsium alloy wheels are shod with 225/45 Bridgestone Potenza tyres while braking is taken care of with big 320mm discs up front and 300mm rotors at the back. Smoked rear lights, gloss black door mirror housings, twin tailpipes and sill extensions complete the look. Inside, the GT buyer will find embossed leather and alcantara sports seats, drilled aluminium pedals, an aluminium gearshift knob and a GT-specific sports steering wheel.

Some 10mm longer, 36mm wider and 12mm taller, this Laguna is comprehensively bigger than the model that preceded it but Renault takes some pride in the fact that it’s also 15kg lighter. Keeping the weight down has obvious benefits in terms of economy and performance but we’re assured that it has not come at the expense of comfort or, that traditional Renault strong suit, safety. All models get the latest ABS technology with brake assist and ESP stability control. Should that fail, the passive safety provision runs to double pressure, double chamber airbags and dual pre-tensioner seatbelts. Renault has also focused on side-impact protection with thorax and pelvis side airbags fitted along with sensors that determine the force of any impact, adjusting the release time of the safety systems accordingly.

Available in both Hatch and Sport Tourer estate guises, the GT sits just below the luxury Initiale models in the Laguna line up. Standard equipment includes climate controlled air conditioning, a CD stereo, front fog lights, cruise control with an automatic speed limiter. The diesel version is also fitted with a particulate filter and exhaust gas recyclingf valve with enhanced cooling. This improves efficiency and reduces the emission of particulates into the environment. Great care has been put into managing the negative side effects of diesel combustion, right down to the fitment of ultra-efficient glow plugs that ensure the car starts at the touch of a button right down to -23 degrees Celsius.

With such powerful engines, the Laguna GT isn’t going to be pocket change to run, and upper specification Laguna models have not had the best record in terms of retaining their value when the time comes to sell. That said, the diesel model at least manages some decent numbers in terms of economy and emissions. The 172g/km carbon dioxide figure is extremely good for a car this big and rapid. Compare it to the 189g/km for a Ford Mondeo diesel with 50bhp less and you’ll see the measure of Renault’s achievement. Eking 47.3 miles from a gallon of derv isn’t too shoddy either. The 2.0-litre petrol car isn’t quite so green, emitting a still creditable 194g/km and managing an average of 34.6mpg. Like all Lagunas, the GT comes with Renault’s 3-year/100,000-mile warranty with the first two years of cover having no mileage limit.
Is the Laguna GT going to make a dent on the list of all-time great Renault sporting cars. In all likelihood, no. That doesn’t mean that it’s not a car without merit, and nor does it necessarily entail that it doesn’t deserve closer scrutiny. It just fulfils a rather specific brief. If your wish list is for a firm riding car with livewire steering and a chassis full of feedback, the Laguna GT isn’t that vehicle. What it does represent is a vehicle that will cover ground quickly and safely while remaining relatively unobtrusive which, when all is said and done, is not dissimilar to the quicker versions of previous Laguna models. So where’s the progress?

It certainly hasn’t come in the area of visual flair. Most canvassed think this generation Laguna isn’t as neat a piece of styling as its handsome predecessor but move beneath the skin and you’ll find a car that’s packed with state of the art safety features and which features a choice between two extremely good engines. The Laguna GT isn’t the most immediately appealing car, but do your homework and it might well prove to be an unexpected gem.