First drive: Renault Laguna GT

Solid dependable grunt
First up, the diesel. And up it certainly goes. While not endowed with the kind of torque that's going to have you wheelspinning at 40mph, the dCi GT issues a solid, dependable and long-serving measure of grunt. Corsica has some remarkably giddy heights, the routes over which wiggle with the kind of insanity that suggests the Romans took one look and kept rowing. My diesel-powered GT gave these inclines all short shrift (or should that be shift?) though as a bend approaches, the access to power in fourth can render the need to trade up to third somewhat pointless. In fact, this engine works so flexibly from low revs that you can drive everywhere in fourth; a sort of one-gear-fits-all set-up.

As a diehard dieselist, it'd be nice to stop here and bypass the other half of the new GT deal, but the new Turbo 205, again a two-litre turbo, offers 25 more bhp than the diesel's 180 and, despite the near 25% drop in overall fuel consumption (34.4mpg against the dCi's 43.4), is worth consideration. And what's more, I'm mortified to say that despite being listed by Renault as the "F4RT 800", it's sweeter than the diesel. Progress is smoother, it achieves the rare feat of being punchier in mid-range and, perhaps crucially given what Renault's trying to do with the elevation of the Laguna badge to Audiesque heights, pulls off a more convincingly suave performance. Chief reason for that? This model is far quieter, the dCi's Achilles' heel being a rather gruff engine noise.

What it's like to drive
My driving notes beyond that decided lack adjectives to describe the four-wheel steer system. Despite the fact that normal two-wheel steer models were made available for cross-comparison, the tangible truth is that unless you're trying to avoid an elk at 90mph or diving for the motorway exit with just 4.3 metres to go, you're unlikely to be aware of any rear-end active input. Sure, the steering is nice and precise and oversteer isn't going to plague you if you punt into a bend too sharp, but beyond that there isn't much here to make me believe Renault's going to kick start a wheely revolution. And that's despite the fact that the first customer of this car is, apparently, a rather intrigued research department at BMW.

Distinctive GT features
More hands-on stuff that come with the GT badge is plentiful: not least the distinctive flat-bottomed steering wheel, animal-free Alcantara or vegetarian-free leather upholstery, drilled aluminium pedals and bucketish sports front seats. The best story is outside though. There's been a somewhat feline reception to the new Laguna from many automotive quarters. They say it's not aggressive enough. They're wrong. It has a subtle, understated cool. The new GT's larger front grille, lateral air scoops to the front bumper, gloss black door mirrors, sharper headlamps and 18-inch alloys make it all the sharper. For £950 per model, you can make yours a Sport Tourer, which not only looks sensational but is fairly practical, too, thanks to the fold-flat seating and deep load length.

GT = High Expectations
Expectations run high with the letters G and T. But to return to their true meaning, they're about long-distance travel in comfort. For that, this newcomer will win hands down. And when asked, ten out of ten elks agreed.

Tiscali verdict: 8/10 Laguna gets hotter looks and slightly hotter performance to match. Generous kit and four-star build quality. Diesel option a touch chatty.

Fancy a closer look? Check out our New Renault Laguna GT Gallery