Renault at Geneva 2010

By Sam Hardy

March 2010

There's no doubt about it – Renault is really putting the Wind up its rivals with this new drop-top! Targeting the Peugeot 207 CC, the compact two-seater convertible offers neat looks and a chassis tuned by its Renaultsport performance department.

According to Stephen Norman, Renault's senior vice president of global marketing, it's going straight to the top of the supermini drop-top sales charts: "We're aiming to be number one with the Wind. When we enter a market, we don't do things by halves – and this car has features, such as its driving dynamics, that our rivals can only dream about."

It sits on a platform shared with the Renaultsport Twingo – along with components from the Renaultsport Clio – and is set to offer a sharp and sporty driving experience. Other neat features include the electrically operated pivoting roof, which opens and closes in only 12 seconds and, crucially, offers the same boot space regardless of its position.

"There are few moving parts in the roof, while the wide track means the Wind has a very solid chassis," product manager, Pascal Cohen told Auto Express. "The driving position is also very low and the windscreen is a long way from the driver's head, giving that vital feeling of space you need to get a great roadster sensation."

As for engines, choices include an entry-level 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol with 100bhp. A more powerful 1.6-litre from the Clio GT will deliver 128bhp, and complete the sprint in nine seconds. Prices should start at around £17,000 when the car goes on sale this summer.

That wasn't it for sporty models at Renault though. The firm also revealed the Renaultsport Clio Gordini. Resurrecting the famous performance badge from the firm's past, this time around Gordini doesn't stand for extra speed. Instead, the Clio Gordini is Malta Blue with two white stripes, and inside there’s blue and black leather seats along with a blue and black leather steering wheel.

On top of the price of a Renaultsport Clio 200, customers will have pay an extra £2,000 for the Gordini visuals – and the same goes for the Renaultsport Twingo Gordini. There's room for the Gordini range to expand to the Megane as well: "If the idea is successful, we will investigate it further. But we won't offer a Laguna Gordini," said Stephen Norman.

Also at Geneva were the GT and GT Line models – warm hatches that sit below the Renaultsport range. Available across the Megane line-up – including Sport Tourer estate and C-C coupe cabrio – the cars get a mild bodykit, sports chassis, sports seats, aluminium pedals and carbon trim inside. GT Line models come with 17-inch wheels, while the GTs get 18-inch wheels.

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