The Renault Laguna replacement will be dubbed Talisman, the French manufacturer has revealed, but the new car won’t be coming to the UK.
Already spotted testing in Europe, the Talisman is expected to go on sale in 2016. Design cues around the front end echo those of the next-generation Renault Megane, which is also due to arrive in 2016, while the Talisman’s overall shape is similar to traditional saloons like the Mazda 6 and Volkswagen Passat.
Renault says the Talisman nameplate was chosen as it “conjures up notions of both protection and power. At the same time, Talisman is an easy word to pronounce and understand the world over”.
While the car’s powertrains have yet to be announced, Renault says the new model “delivers intense driving enjoyment founded on a genuinely sensorial experience.
"The combination of its robust, racy lines and innovative technologies express protection and safety."
Inside, Renault is expected to fit the Talisman with the kind of advanced technology expected of an executive saloon. That includes a digital instrument cluster, leather trim and a large multimedia screen, which previous spy shots have shown on prototype models.
The Talisman name is already used on a four-door model sold in China. The aligning of the name with this new model shows Renault’s ambition to create a more global car.
The Talisman has been a long time coming, with plans for a more premium executive saloon to replace the Laguna stretching back to 2012. Renault bosses told Autocar in 2013 that the next Laguna would need to be a more adventurous model, and would need to incorporate the “fluid and emotional” styling seen in Renault’s smaller models. In particular, former Renault boss Carlos Tavares said inspiration would come from the Zoe, Captur and Clio models.
A Renault spokesman confirmed that the reason why Talisman would not be coming to the UK was the same reason why the new Espace won’t be seen in this country: because D-segment saloons and MPVs are not a growth area in the UK, with market trends instead showing a desire for SUVs and crossovers. By contrast, in Europe the saloon and MPV market is still relatively stable.
Renault has released a short 'mood' video to coincide with the announcement.
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