FLEETS will see the new Renault Laguna in October, four months before it goes on sale. Due to be launched here in the first quarter of 2001, the new Laguna is to be built on the platform used for the Safrane and Espace and will appear at around the same time as the new Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra and Citroen Xantia hit the market.

Renault UK's fleet and commercial vehicle operations director, Keith Hawes, said platform sharing would help keep production costs down and provide features unique in the upper medium sector. 'Laguna will be technologically way ahead of what the competition can offer,' said Hawes. 'Design is also crucial. Our success has come from offering something individual and while Laguna is not going to be the most radical of Renaults, it will be different.'