Renault Enhances Laguna Range
Published: 22nd October 2003
With the addition of the five-speed Proactive automatic transmission the 2.0T 16V engine serves up a 0-62mph time of 9.1 seconds (9.3 for the Sport Tourer) continuing on to a top speed of 134mph (133mph). Yet while offering this level of performance, the 2.0T 16V Automatic minimises the impact on the environment with a comparatively low CO2 emission figure of 217g/km (220g/km) plus strong fuel economy figures. A combined cycle figure of 31mpg (30.7mpg).
In addition the low CO2 emissions of the 2.0T 16V Automatic result in excellent tax savings for the company car driver while offering more power and refinement. In Dynamique hatchback form its CO2 emission figure of 217g/km equates to a tax cost of £2006.10p based on an on-the-road price of £18,575 and a driver in the 40% tax bracket. The equivalent 2.0 16V Automatic attracts tax of £1687.20p while the 3.0 V6 will cost £2,467.20p.
For an extra 25bhp and whopping 102Nm of torque over the 140bhp 2.0 16V the company car driver only faces a £318.90 increase per annum in his or her tax bill. Before the arrival of the 2.0 Turbo if the company car driver wanted a more powerful Laguna they would have to trade up to the 3.0 V6 version paying £780.
Prices for the 2.0T Automatic model start at £17,575 on-the-road for the Expression rising to £21,875 on-the-road for the top-of-the-range Initiale, a premium of £1,000 over the six-speed manual versions.
Dynamique with added comfort
Also attractive to user-chooser company car drivers will be the addition as standard of the Comfort pack to all Dynamique and Dynamique Techno models at no extra cost and maintaining the same Benefit in kind (BIK) tax advantage.
The Comfort pack consists of climate control, which replaces manual air conditioning, and an electric tilt/slide sunroof - panoramic in the case of the Sport Tourer model - making Dynamique and Dynamique Techno models even better value by £650 - the cost of the pack as an option, which it still available on Expression and Extreme models.
The addition of the Comfort pack makes the Dynamique the most competitive
model in the class as it is the only car to offer both climate control
and electric sunroof.
By not increasing the RRP of the Dynamique and Dynamique Techno
yet offering extra equipment worth £650, user-choosers will
benefit by not seeing the tax bill increase while fleet managers
can be assured of better residual values thanks to an improved standard
equipment list.
Conclusion
Even more than ever the Laguna range offers a model to suit every
pocket whether for the private customer or the user-chooser, with
an emphasis on sportiness from both the Extreme model and the 2.0T
Automatic plus added comfort from the Dynamique and Dynamique Techno.
