Nissan Altima Coupe needs to learn French fast

It's an Altima Coupé. It's a Laguna Coupé. It's two, two, two cars in one. Auto Express magazine has another spy shot of Nissan's new Altima 2-door we told you about recently. But there's a twist. The car is wearing a Renault badge. Huh? How did Renault get the Coupé before Nissan? Company head Carlos Ghosn has announced plans to introduce a whopping 26 new Renault models over the next 3 years, and borrowing the underpinnings from the Altima, the new Laguna could be available much sooner. Renault means front-engine, front-drive, so this Altima Coupé fits into the Renault lineup quite nicely, especially in the UK.

According to the article, the Laguna Coupé will be powered by the same 3.5-litre V6 as the Altima with around 260 hp. That should give the Laguna a 0-60mph time of less than seven seconds and a top speed around 140mph. All out performance will be reserved for the Nissan 350Z, though, with the Renault being more of a GT car. That translates into a slightly more comfort-oriented driving experience. An automatic gearbox is expected to be the most popular choice in shifters.

Outside, the new Coupé will follow along the lines of Renault's Nepta concept. Prices on the Laguna Coupé are being pegged at around £25,000 ($47,400) when it reaches showrooms next year.

[Source: Auto Express]