RENAULT is celebrating the New Year by launching the most powerful Laguna to date complete with a race-bred pedigree. The new V6 Executive marks the Laguna's success in this year's British Touring Car Championship by offering enthusiastic drivers 3.0 litres, 24 valves and 194bhp to play with. As well as stunning performance, the super-Laguna features a 100-watt Alpine stereo with CD, leather upholstery, electric seats, cruise control and host of other extras for an on-the-road price of ú22,060 - exactly the same as the outgoing Laguna V6.

But as well as offering superior performance and creature comforts, the new Laguna V6 also returns 10% better fuel efficiency than its predecessor. The newcomer competes with the likes of 3.0 litre versions of the Peugeot 406 and Citroen Xantia, with which it shares an engine, Mondeo and Vectra V6s and the forthcoming Passat V5 and V6, but develops more power than most of its rivals.