RENAULT has decided to offer fleet operators a warranty extension to three years/60,000 miles - but it will only cover the clutch. The company denied this week that the offer resulted from customer worries about the component, saying: 'It is simply a small expression to create confidence in the product. It goes no further than that. Warranties are in demand and we thought, why not?'

So far the offer applies only to the Megane. Clutches were a weakness on the old Renault 19, which the Megane replaces, and subject to a recall at one stage.