Renault Laguna I

Make	Renault
Years of production	1994 to 2001 Phase 1: 1994 - 1998 Phase 2: 1998 - 2001
Production	2,350,800
Class	Motor Car
Assembly plant	Sandouville Palencia
Fuel types	Gasoline , diesel and LPG
Engines	Gasoline F :1794  cm 31998  cm 3 K motor :1598  cm 3 Modular Volvo :1948  cm 3 V6 PRV :2963  cm 3 V6 ESL :2946  cm 3 Diesel G :2188  cm 3 Diesel turbo F :1 870  cm 3 G :2 188  cm 3
Engine position	Front
Displacement	From 1,598 to 2,963  cc
Maximum torque	From 142 to 267  Nm
Gearbox	Manual 5 speed
Unloaded weight	From 1,090 to 1,480 kg
Bodywork	Sedan sedan 5 doors, 5 seats Break (Nevada) 5 doors, 5 seats
Length	Sedan  : 4,510  mm Break  : 4,630 mm
Width	1,752 mm
Height	Sedan  : 1 440  mm Break  : 1 470 mm

The Renault Laguna was marketed between 1994 and 2001. It existed in five-door sedan (including the hatchback ) and in station wagon version too.

In January 1994, after 8 years of success, Renault replaced the popular Renault 21 with an elegant 5-door sedan the new Laguna. The lines are inspired by the Safrane , with even more elegance, awarded the prize of the most beautiful car of the year of 1994. The philosophy of this new Renault is based on total control of quality, both for the assembly and for the materials used. 
The Laguna is distinguished by its very ergonomic interior, with a very original dashboard with all controls at hand, the extension of the dashboard in the front door panels with integration of the ventilation grilles in the doors. The horn control is on the steering wheel (a first for a French car) .The Laguna distinguishes itself from the outset by remarkable damping and comfort. In addition, its neat interior shows the progress made by Renault in terms of quality control since the late 1980s. It is one of the first models of the brand, with Renault 19 Baccara and RSi, Espace Grand Écran and V6, and Safrane RT to provide an airbag optional driver side. 
Unlike the Renault 21, which offered 4 and 5-door bodies, the Laguna is only made in 5 doors, respecting the choice of the customer who abandons the classic versions in this range of models. For phase 2 in 1998, the anti-corrosion treatment is further improved. Apart from the problems on diesel engines 1.9 dTi and 1.9 dCi, the first Laguna, is a model known for its reliability .

Phase I (1994 - 1998) 

Marketed from January 14, 1994. The range in Phase 1 is articulated around four levels of finishes: RN, RT, RXE and V6 . The equipment is very limited on the basic models, but becomes better once reached the mid- range .

The sporty vocation of the Laguna under the name of the finish "2.0 S" or "RTi", the Laguna, with monograms "16v" on the front doors and being endowed with the "  Modular engine  " 2  liters 16v (1 948  cc ) from Volvo (type N7Q) of 140 hp (the engine of the Volvo S40 / V40 ), a specific velvet upholstery with gray and black patterns, and a three-spoke steering wheel , which will equip later the Mégane coupe . In July 1999, this  Volvo block is replaced by an "  engine F  " Renault 2 liters 16v (1,998 cc ) F4R more modern, 136  hp , but offering more torque and lower fuel consumption.

From October 1996, the Laguna adopts a new logo on the tailgate, with the appearance of the third brake light, passive safety improvements (including modifications under the dashboard to prevent leg injuries), new steering wheel. The equipment is revised upwards over the entire range.  1997, the first diesel engine with direct injection at Renault: the 1.9  liter dTi ("  F engine  ") of 100  hp ( turbo), replacing the atmospheric 2.2 D. This 1.9 dTi despite its intrinsic qualities of low consumption, suffer from problems of youth: the accessory belt tends to break causing a shift in the distribution and therefore the destruction of the engine, problem solved by a recall on a large scale.

Phase II (1998 - 2001)

The Laguna was restyled in April 1998, in addition to displaying new levels of finish (RNE, RTE, RXE, RXT), the front face is modified by new headlights.

The front bumper is also retouched, with the installation of round foglamps that will be included on the Megane I phase 2 , Scénic I phase 2 and Twingo I phase 3 . The "gills" spoiler characteristic of Phase 1 is abandoned for a simple plastic band, which raises the ground clearance to the front. The monograms naming the engines and finishes are also reviewed. The equipment and passive safety are also improved, including the standard fitting of the head / side airbags and the SRP (Restraint system with force limiter on the front belts). In April 1997, the last Laguna phase 1 had already undergone some passive safety improvements (including modifications under the dashboard to prevent leg injury).

At the technical level, new gasoline engines are emerging: a 1.6-liter, 16-valve , 110- hp , a 1.8- liter, 16-valve, 115-hp, and a two-liter, 16-valve, 136-hp . These engines are considered ideal on the Laguna, their low consumption combined with very respectable performance for the 1.6  liter, to a car extremely pleasant to lead with the 2  liters. The diesels are also reviewed, the big 2.2  liters dT receives a turbo with a variable geometry that improves the availability of its power and its torque, then appear the very first declination of the 1.9  liter dCi ("  engine F  ") of 110  hp , inaugurating the principle of the common injection rail ( common rail ) at high pressure at Renault. The first dCi will see their common ramps flee and their injectors to seize.A more powerful version will be released in 1995, Laguna Biturbo Hartge. The preparer Hartge will graft the engine of the Safrane Biturbo , to obtain an exceptional car. It displays a maximum speed of 254  km / h , an acceleration of 0 to 100  km / h in 7 seconds, and travels the 400  m start in 14.7  s and the 1000  m start in 26.9  s . Renault will not market it, because of the failure of the Safrane bi-turbo. The engine is a 12 "  V6 PRV  engine of 2 963  cm ³( 93 x 72.7 mm ), powered by two turbos . It delivers a maximum power of 280  hp at 5,500  rpm for a torque of 399  Nm at 3,000  rpm , generating a weight / power input of 5.34  kg / hp and a torque / weight ratio of 267  Nm / T . It is equipped with a five- speed manual gearbox , the power is transmitted to the front wheels.