Renault Latitude (2010) first official pictures

These are the first official pictures of the new Renault Latitude, a car out to steal sales from Skoda’s Superb. It's aimed at emerging markets, rather than Europe.

No. Instead this is a completely fresh model, slotting in above the Laguna and becoming the flagship saloon in Renault’s range – think of it as a replacement for the Vel Satis.

But while the Vel Satis (and Avantime) were launched when Renault was feeling adventurous, the Latitude is much more reserved and generic. Underneath the bodywork it sits on the same chassis and the Samsung SM5, a saloon recently launched into the Korean market by Renault-Samsung Motors.

Full technical details have yet to be released, but Renault promises the ‘front-end looks mirror the power of the engines’. Result: we’re not expecting much from under the bonnet.

Renault also claims ‘a comfortable, silent ride’ and a ‘particularly precise chassis’, and tech highlights include a massaging driver’s seat, triple-zone climate control and a high-end Bose audio system.

The Latitude will initially go on sale in parts of Asia and Africa, Russia, Turkey, some Gulf states, Australia and Mexico – it will be unveiled at the Moscow motor show in August 2010. A European version will be shown at the 2010 Paris motor show in September, although Renault is remaining tight-lipped about whether the Latitude will make it to the UK market.

By Gareth Evans