New Car/Review

Renault Safrane

by Paul Negyesi

As the Safrane will be replaced only in 1999 and the competition is verystrong, for the 1997 model year the car has been slightly altered.
New bonnet, reshaped front, bigger front headlights makes the car moredistinctive looking.
The new alloy-wheels gives a "cool" image. The engine range is a mix of Volvoand Peugeot powerplants: top-of-the-range is the Peugeot-sourced 2.9litre V6, the 2.5 170 bhp and the 2.0 140 bhp came from Volvo.
A 2.2 turbo-diesel adds the "diesel-touch".
In this category satellite navigation system is obligatory. Side air-bagswill also be included in the packet.
Sales already started in Europe. It'll soon turn out whether the Safranewill be able to stay in 2nd position behind the Opel Omega orthe new breed of Korean and European models will pass it.