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Renault Laguna Coupe Concept 2007
[B]LAGUNA COUPÉ CONCEPT: ELEGANCE, DRIVING PLEASURE AND PEACE OF MIND[/B]
Built on the same platform as New Laguna, Laguna Coupé Concept is a powerful, elegant affirmation of the long tradition of classic coupés. Rooted in its grand tourer heritage, Laguna Coupé Concept embodies Renault’s vision of the sports Coupé.
The look and lines of Laguna Coupé Concept share a common bond with the Fluence concept car (2004). It measures 4.685m in length and is distinguished by its flowing, thoroughbred profile, emphasised by a long nose and very short rear overhang. Its aerodynamic crease lines rise from below the grille then powerfully up on to the car’s flanks, elegantly underlining the wings. The lines sweep on to the rear of the car, where they come together over the boot, underscoring the muscularity of its haunches. The glazed area is highlighted by the pure arc of its rim.
The low, wide, robust aluminium grille hints at a powerful engine behind it, while this sense of power is further reinforced by the long, centrally-ribbed bonnet that comes straight from the world of Coupé grand tourers. Its front end houses two headlamp units that give it an upmarket look as they stretch back along the front wings.
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. The two LED foglamps blend perfectly with this powerfully modelled front end.
Two narrow, elongated lights, together with the converging crease lines, lend the rear a uniquely stylish, luminous look, which gives Laguna Coupé Concept an aura of refinement and power. They are further emphasised 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. It gives off a soft-focus glow and, like a small fountain of light, it faintly mirrors the distinctive pattern of the rear lights. To round off the overall impression of sobriety and elegance, the lower rear end houses an air vent that incorporates two profiled exhausts.
The two frameless doors boast their own lights and open onto a stylish and unique 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.
Laguna Coupé Concept’s interior is exactly how the cabin of a high-end Coupé should be. The dash draws on the principal stylistic features of New Laguna, albeit in a more exclusive manner. With its soft, pure lines, it appears weightless and airy. The wave-shape of the central strip is the guiding theme, while two side vents close off a long air-conditioning strip that runs the entire width of the windscreen.
The interior exudes sophistication. A large screen in the centre 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. The air-conditioning controls are located in the centre of the dashboard, in an easily identifiable dedicated section framed by vents. Designed for intuitive ease of use and reach, they are set like crystal gems in a chrome display case.
In a nod to the design cues of high-end sports coupés, the spokes of the steering wheel splay out like flower petals, guiding the driver’s gaze to the binnacles on the dashboard. The delicate steering column runs into a heavy aluminium shell that houses controls which resemble high-precision micrometers.