It was launched five years ago. Today, there are around 1.2 million Lagunas on European roads. And the market is still hungry. To meet this heavy demand, around 1,000 of these units roll off Renault's assembly line in northern France every day. And the car has left fellow French competitors Peugeot 406 and the Citroen Xantia far behind.
Not content with success, Renault is adding better value to the Laguna,without increasing its price. For starters, instead of the regular telescopic radio antenna, there is an integrated screen-printed aerial on the rear window glass. New 16" alloy wheels, new leather/cloth combination upholstery, three-point safety belts combined with head/chest airbags, additional fog lamps, electric door mirrors in colour-coded housings, new colours are all standard. Whew!
The top-end Initiale version has Renault's new Carminat-navigation system as standard. In collaboration with the French government and France Telecom Mobiles, an electronic unit placed inside the car uses satellite information to determine the position of any driver who has been involved in an accident, has broken down or is simply lost. All he has to do is use any of the three buttons: red for an emergency call, orange for a breakdown call, and green for navigation assistance. This Odysline installation however is optional.
And not to forget, along with all these goodies, two new engines are offered by Renault for the Laguna. One is a 1,998cc, 16-valve engine featuring variable valve timing, and it develops a power output of 140 bhp at 5,500 rpm and produces a torque of 19.5 kgm at 3,750 rpm. The other option is a 1,870cc common-rail diesel powerplant, the first in any Renault vehicle, which seems to be more exc
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
