Nissan Altima Coupe needs to learn French fast

nissan-altima-coupe.jpgIt’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.

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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. [Auto Express]