- Renault Megane Coupe: Production Version to be Launched this Year!

While we all knew that Renault’s Geneva Show star, the Megane Coupe Concept would form the base for a production version, what we didn’t know, is when we’d see it in the market. That will happen much sooner that we thought as, according to Renault’s design director Patrick Le Quement, the production version of the Concept will be launched before the end of the year along with a more conventional five-door model.

The new Megane, which will be revealed in September at the Paris Motor Show, won’t have a traditional 3door hatchback version – instead the range will feature a VW Scirooco-like coupe based on the concept unveiled in Geneva.“You have the design before your very eyes,” said Renault design director Patrick Le Quement. He also said that while the new Megane is “a strong design statement”, it will not polarize opinions in the same way as the current model. “Those that didn't like the current model at first never did grow to like it,” said Le Quement. “The new model won't have the upright line at the rear – it will be more acceptable - but it will shake its arse for sure!”

The French carmaker will also shorten the timespan of the model renewal program. “The entire Megane range will be renewed by the end of 2009,” said Le Quement. This includes saloon, coupe-cabrio and estate bodystyles, plus “at least one more model”.

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Aston Martin Lagonda Concept

At a time when the Big Three could be considering Chapter 11 and iconic brands are teetering on the verge of extinction, a brand founded by an American has been revived.

Lagonda was established by Wilbur Gunn, a native of Troy, Ohio who went to England to set up a European branch of his brother-in-law's Lagonda steam engine equipment manufacturing company.

Incidentally, "Lagonda" is the name of a district that grew up on the banks of Lagonda Creek, itself a corruption of the local Indian name for the river. To cut a long story short, Lagonda became part of Aston Martin in 1947 when it was bought by David Brown (the DB in Aston nomenclature).

Lagonda has now been revived by Aston Martin as being "above Range Rover" and described as a "useable" Roll-Royce, with four seats and all-wheel drive. Although the Lagonda Concept is powered by Aston's V-12, expect diesels, hybrids and "technologies not available to Aston Martin" to feature in the upcoming Lagonda models, which won't appear until 2012 "at the earliest."

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Aston Martin DB9

Technical Specs
Standard Engine 6.0L V12
Standard Transmission 6 Speed Automatic
Cylinders 12Horse
power @ RPM 450@6000
Torque @ RPM 420@5000 (foot-lbs)

The DB9 is Aston Martin's V12 GT that is offered in both Coupe and Volante (convertible) versions. The DB9 Coupe replaced the DB7 for the 2004 model year, and the DB9 Volante joined the Coupe for 2005. The DB9 features a handcrafted aluminum-bonded body frame that offers strength, structural rigidity and light weight.The DB9 is Aston Martin's V12 GT that is offered in both Coupe and Volante (convertible) versions. The DB9 Coupe replaced the DB7 for the 2004 model year, and the DB9 Volante joined the Coupe for 2005. The DB9 features a handcrafted aluminum-bonded body frame that offers strength, structural rigidity and light weight.

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