Renault’s new compact coupe-roadster aims to put the wind up the Mazda MX-5 and Peugeot 207CC.
Renault describes the Wind as a compact, inventive, fun-to-drive coupe-roadster.
Let’s break it down:
Compact. At 3.83 m long, you can’t argue with that. It slots neatly between the Twingo and Clio.
Inventive. Hmm, I think this may be stretching it a little. Although the folding roof mechanism is clever, it’s fairly close to the solution pioneered by Italian designer Fioravanti which saw production on the Ferrari Superamerica some years ago. Apparently, Renault has added a cover to the pivoting lid which earns the French carmaker the right to a separate patent. So I’d say more evolutionary than “revolutionary”, as Renault puts it.
The key benefit of the flip-top lid is that it takes up very little storage space so the Wind’s boot capacity remains constant at 270 litres with the top up or down. Its arch-rival, the Peugeot 207 CC offers just 187 litres with the roof stowed. Opening or closing the roof is a push-button affair and takes just 12 seconds.
Fun-to-drive. The car was developed with assistance from the Renault Sport Technologies division so the prospects for an entertaining drive were quite promising. These are the guys behind the Clio 2 Renaultsport platform, upon which the Wind is based.
We set off in the 100bhp 1.2 TCe model in Dynamique S trim which features the larger 17” alloys as standard. The car was finished in a very modish shade of brilliant white paint, the only non-metallic option available.
Our test route took us along a mix of motorways and twisty mountain roads which allowed us to explore the Wind’s road manners in some detail. Most open-topped cars suffer from a lack of torsional stiffness which often translates into soggy handling but the Renaultsport gurus have reinforced the Wind’s bodyshell to endow it with very tidy road holding and precise turn-in.
The 153 Nm of torque on tap were found wanting a little as we climbed through some of the sharpest hairpins but they proved more than adequate as the hills flattened out.
The 1.6-litre version offers an extra 33bhp but just 7 more Nm of torque so I would probably plump for the peppy and more frugal ‘blown’ Wind.
Charis Whitcombe recently road tested the Clio fitted with the same 1.2-litre engine and shared my opinion on the virtues of the unit.
Renault officials said that no diesel variant is offered or planned since there is no diesel competitor in the segment but a glance at the Peugeot listings shows an HDi version of the 207 CC and MINI is also planning an oil-burning convertible – so Renault may wish to reconsider its position on this point.
Prices start at £15,500 for the 100bhp 1.2 model and rise to £18,200 for the 133 bhp 1.6 VVTi Collection limited edition.
The Wind is not a hard-edged machine for typical Renaultsport fans, but it is a stylish and accomplished little coupe-roadster.
The name may cause you a few sniggers initially but once you get over that, you’ll find it’s a breath of fresh air.
Click here to check out the photos from the launch of the Renault Wind.
