Renault plans to play it safe with the next Laguna — but a more radical model is planned in the longer term.
Renault marketing boss Steve Norman has described the next Laguna as “a very good mainstream solution” — but it won’t be called Laguna, and it will be "supported” by further models developed with Samsung in Korea.
They’re likely to include the next-gen Latitude (to be called Safrane). For the following generation of Laguna, due in 2015/2016, Renault is looking at Audi’s A5 Sportback and Infiniti’s Etherea for inspiration. “We can be more innovative with this car,” said product chief Beatrice Foucher.
Plans have also been scotched to radicalise the next-generation Espace and work has started on a regular seven-seat MPV. “Renault won’t do only crossovers,” said Foucher. “An MPV is part of the DNA of our brand. But we have some very interesting studies which say the driving experience will be more important for MPVs than it is today, so we’re working on that.”
Renault sources admit the firm was caught out by crossovers, incidentally. But the Captur concept from the recent Geneva show points to a potential Juke rival, and Renault is working with Nissan on the next-gen Qashqai, so it’s likely to offer its own version of that car.
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