VIDEO: Vladimir Putin Drives a Renault Formula 1 Car

Former Russian President and now Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is doing his best to remain in the spotlight. After his country decided to back the Renault F1 team, by branding it with Lada advertisements, Mr. Putin was invited to drive the R30 Formula One racer at a special event held in St. Petersburg. Video after the break.

Wearing a helmet painted in his country's colors and with Russia written on the visor, Vladimir Putin is said to have reached speeds of up to 240 km/h (150 mph), showing that he is a man of many talents.

The PM's interest towards the sport is also due to the fact that Russia's bid to hold an F1 event after the Sochi Olympics in 2014 was successful as the deal was signed less than a month ago.

By Csaba Daradics

_______________________________VIDEO_______________________________

VIDEO: Renault Shows Megane CC's Glass Top in Motion

In this latest promotional video, Renault shows us how the new 2010 Megane CC quickly transforms from a coupe to a convertible. As with the previous model, the new Megane CC features a large, two-piece retractable glass roof that folds away in the boot.

The new CC, which will have its world premiere in Geneva next month, also features a new electric power steering system, a choice of seven gasoline and diesel engines as well as Renault's all-new automatic EDC dual clutch automatic transmission that will be offered on certain models as an option.

VIDEO: See the New Renault Wind Coupe-Roadster's Rotating Top in Action

In a world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on March 2, Renault will unveil its brand-new coupe-roadster, the Wind, and this here is the first video of that car. Even though its shares its underpinnings with the Twingo hatch, the Wind is 200mm longer and gets its own unique styling, and will be marketed separately.

The highlight of the small roadster is of course its novel electric roof that pivots open in 12 seconds, without having any effect on luggage space. You can watch the roof top in action in the video after the jump.

Hou là là! Renault Twingo Trophy with Mid-Mounted Range-Rover V8 [With Videos]

While not as insanely extreme as the Citroen 2CV - Ferrari F355 hybrid that we showed you back in May, this special creation from French custom car and motorcycle builder Lazareth is one helluva creation. Evidently inspired by the competition Renault Megane Trophy and the Clio V6 Renault Sport, the Twingo Trophy is one of those cars that you'd be tempted to take for a spin even though it doesn't make much sense.

The French tuner took a base first-generation Twingo mini and turned it into a track-racer by throwing out the puny, front-mounted stock engine and installing a Range-Rover-sourced 3.5-liter V8 with 180 horsepower behind the front seats. Power is transferred to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Of course, transforming a city car into a mid-engined sports car isn't that simple as Lazareth had to modify the Twingo's chassis by adding a rear tubular subframe, replacing the suspension and brakes and widening the front and rear tracks just to mention a few of the changes. It also rides on 18-inch Toora alloy wheels wrapped in Yokohama slick tires size 230 up front and... 320 at the back.

Other highlights include the matte gray exterior paint finish and the 'sported-up' interior that boasts a pair of MOMO bucket seats, sport steering wheel and new digital gauges. And the price for all this? Well, according to Lazareth's site, the Twingo Trophy V8 could be yours for €70,000 or about $105,000 US. Who said that grown mens toys come cheap...

Thanks for the tip Timo! Via: Maxituning , Source: Lazareth

VIDEO: Renault's F1 Pilot Romain Grosjean Hot-Laps the 'Ring in 2010 Megane RenaultSport 250

We know that many of you -well, at least those living on the other side of the pond- are quite excited about Renault's new 2010 Megane RenaultSport 250, so we got hold of this freshly released video that shows the French automaker's F1 pilot, Romain Grosjean, driving the car at the Nurburgring circuit. Building on the company's growing presence in the hot-hatch market, the Megane RS features a 250HP 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with power being delivered to the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Watch the RS at the Green Hell after the break.

Renault Fluence: New Compact Sedan for Russia, Turkey and Romania, and perhaps the US as a Saturn

Remember Renault's 2004 Fluence concept car that inspired the styling of the Laguna Coupe? Well, the only common denominator between the sexy prototype (see pics below) and this compact-sized sedan is their name... Virtually a rebadged version of the Korean market Samsung SM3 that was revealed earlier this year, the Fluence is the sedan variant of the Megane and it will be initially sold only in Russia, Romania and Turkey.

There's also a chance that we may see Renault's VW Jetta-sized sedan heading towards the States as a Saturn if the American brand's new owner, Penske Automotive Group, closes a proposed deal with the French automaker.

Depending on the market, buyers will have a choice of two gasoline engines, a 110HP 1.6-liter unit linked to either a manual gearbox or an automatic transmission and a 140HP 2.0-liter matted to a CVT, plus a 1.5-lited dCi diesel with outputs of 85HP, 90HP (DPF - Diesel Particulate Filter), 105HP and 110HP (DPF). All diesel engines are coupled to a manual gearbox, with the most powerful version also offered with Renault's new dual-clutch transmission.

In 2011, Renault will also introduce an electric version of the Fluence with more details expected to be released closer to the launch date.

The 4,62 metres long four-door saloon that boasts a luggage capacity of 530 liters will be built at Renault's plant in Bursa, Turkey, on the same assembly line that manufactured the outgoing Megane II sedan.

Renault Fluence Sedan

______________________________________________________________

Samsung SM3

______________________________________________________________

Renault Fluence Concept