Frankfurt motor show 2007 - Renault

There was little time for Renault bigwigs to catch their breath with no less than seven world premieres at this year's show.

Five new production cars and two concepts were unveiled, including the first-ever Clio estate – the Clio Sport Tourer – as well as the new Laguna Hatch and Sport Tourer.

The Clio Sport Tourer
The Clio Sport Tourer takes many of its design cues from the Clio Grand Tour Concept, which was unveiled in Geneva earlier this year. The idea is to combine style with practicality: a large luggage space married to a sleek design.

Clio Sport Tourer goes on sale in the UK in Spring 2008, but prices have not yet been announced.

The new Laguna
The Hatch and Sport Tourer versions of New Laguna are among those making their first public appearances before going on sale in the UK from October 2007 and January 2008 respectively.

Prices range from £15,990 to £22,200 and there's a wide range of engines available, including three diesel engines – a 108bhp 1.5 as well as 128bhp and 148bhp 2.0-litre units.

The petrol line-up comprises non-turbo and turbocharged 2.0-litre units. The non-turbo version produces 138bhp, but the turbocharged motor, which comes with a standard six-speed automatic gearbox, develops 168bhp.

The new Laguna is the flagship car for Renault's ambitious plans to take on premium makers such as BMW and Audi.

The hatchback goes on sale on October 17 and the Tourer will be available in the UK next year.

Prices range from £15,990 to £23,700 but Renault says it will increase the price to reflect its quality and to put it on par with rivals such as the Volkswagen Passat.

The French manufacturer carried out 9000 customer interviews to find out what buyers really want, and reliability and quality were two of the key themes to emerge.

Now Renault is determined to build bulletproof cars, and the electronic glitches that plagued the old Laguna won't be repeated, it says. As a result, the company has extended the Laguna's three-year warranty to 100,000 miles.

The new Kangoo
The Kangoo has been a massive success for Renault with around 2.2 million cars sold since its launch in 1997. Now Renault is hoping to repeat that success with the new Kangoo.

The new Kangoo is larger than the older model and offers more interior space. The cabin has been redesigned to make it more practical and comfortable.

It comes with a range of engines: two petrol engines and one diesel with three different power outputs.

It goes on sale in Autumn 2008.

More concept cars - including a Laguna Coupe
Renault also showed off a Laguna Coupe, Koleos and Kangoo Compact concept cars.

The Laguna Coupe is expected to be the forerunner to a production version, possibly as soon as the end of next year.

It is expected to go on sale in late 2008 and Renault says that it will keep 80% of the car on show today. It will use a 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel offering between 230bhp and 265bhp.

Meanwhile, the Koleos concept car gives design clues to the soft-roader 4x4 that is due to go on sale next year.

The concept is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine and Renault describes it as combining the space of an MPV with the rugged looks of a 4x4.

The Kangoo Compact is a short-wheelbase version of the Kangoo and it is a leisure vehicle aimed at young, sporty urbanites.

It boasts a radical design inspired by the... rollerblade. The interior loadbay is curved to resemble a halfpipe and the indicators have been moulded to look like rollerblade wheels.

The concept also features a sliding glass roof and swivelling rear seats.