Renault has a reputation for making versatile cars, such as the Scenic and Espace.
It is known also for its avantgarde designs, such as the Avantime (unavailable here).
But beautiful cars? Not really.
Not until now.
Behold the Laguna Coupe, arguably the most breathtaking Renault to land here.
Stylistically, it has hints of Aston Martin, Maserati, Jaguar and a dollop of the 1990s sensation, the Coupe Fiat.
Yet, it is recognisably a Laguna (if you squint hard), the brilliant Renault sedan largely ignored by buyers here.
It will, however, be tough to ignore this coupe, even if it shares the engine and drivetrain of its four-door brethren.
It is slightly shorter and narrower than the sedan, with less space between the front and rear wheels.
It is also not as tall and a mite heavier.
The dimensions matter little to front occupants, who will enjoy adequate room, good visibility as well as an ergonomical and visually pleasing cockpit.
And unlike most two-doors, its seatbelts are within easy reach (although they lack height adjustment).
Rear occupants do not have it too bad, either.
Sure, the space is not as generous as in the sedan but it will accommodate two adults in reasonable comfort.
Access to the second row is via a flap, which activates electric servos that move the front seats fluidly away.
They also move the seats back into position, according to the memory settings, a feature commonly found in high-end two-doors.
Ergonomically, the only flaw lies with the big and heavy doors.
Ideally, they should have a horizontal grip to offer more leverage.
The hinges should also be the notch-less type, right now, you either squeeze yourself through a narrow aperture or risk hitting the car next to you.
The coupe drives, handles and rides quite differently from the sedan.
The breeziness of the light-turbo engine seems blunted and some lag is detectable, especially upon kick-down.
It offers better handling, though, with a razor-sharp steering, exact turn-ins and an admirable resistance to roll.
Ride comfort, unfortunately, is poorer.
This is attributable largely to the bigger wheels and shorter wheelbase.
It rides on 18-inch rims, versus 16 on the sedan.
RENAULT LAGUNA COUPE 2.0T
Engine: 1,998cc 16-valve inline-4 light-turbo Transmission: Six-speed automatic with quick shift Power: 170bhp at 5,000rpm Torque: 270Nm at 3,250rpm 0-100kmh: 9.2 seconds Top speed: 220kmh Fuel consumption: 8.8 litres/100km (city-highway) Price: $132,999 with COE Distributor: Wearnes Automotive
Often, the coupe feels jiggly over the slightest indentations on the tarmac, quite uncharacteristic of a French car.
While the way it moves invites criticism, the way it is built passes muster with flying colours.
The cabin is luxuriously appointed, with baby-soft plastics lining the dash and upmarket metallic inserts giving the fascia a sporty look.
You get electronic parking brakes with self-release, dual-zone climate control, steering-mounted controls for functions such as the audio and auto-cruise.
Safety equipment includes bi-xenon headlamps and third-generation adaptive airbags.
The headrests are extremely comfy and supportive as well.
The coolest feature is the keyless access and ignition.
Simply walk away from the car and the doors lock on their own with a beep.
The Laguna Coupe is automotive eyecandy and a tempting proposition.
If it had a little bit more go and a better ride, it would have been absolutely irresistible.
