Renault Laguna Roadster, the 1990s convertible from the future

Unveiled in 1990, this concept has no windscreen, but is equipped with a futuristic visor system and has a 210bhp 2.0 engine.

Renault Laguna Roadster Concept (1990)

Photo by: Renault

By: Alberto Carmone

Published by: Angel Sergeev

Nov 23, 2024 at 3:58am ET

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Light, technological, and roofless. In the early 1990s, this is how Renault imagined the dream sports car, as demonstrated by the Laguna Roadster. Presented at the 1990 Paris Motor Show, this concept, inspired by the speedsters of the 1950s and 1960s and iconic sports cars such as the first Alpine A110, displayed an avant-garde design and many surprising solutions to create maximum driving involvement.

The roadster of tomorrow

With a low and sinuous 4.11-metre-long silhouette, the Renault Laguna Roadster looks like something out of the future, at least by 1990s styling standards. The blue bodywork, embellished with grey details, conveys a sense of dynamism and fluidity, while the electronically controlled butterfly-wing opening doors combine technology and a nod to exotic supercars.

Renault Laguna Roadster Concept (1990)

But the real unique feature of this Renault is the Cruising Stereo. This is a special helmet equipped with a visor and headphones that protects the eyes (given the absence of a windscreen) and enhances sound involvement thanks to a specially developed Philips sound system.

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Everything you need to have fun

Under the bonnet, this Renault hides a 2.0-litre engine, derived from the Renault 21 Turbo but upgraded to deliver 210 bhp.

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The four-cylinder mill guarantees a top speed of over 155 mph and acceleration from 0 to 62 mph in just six seconds. Impressive values in relation to the power, also achieved thanks to the lightweight body structure made of carbon and Kevlar.

Renault Laguna Roadster Concept (1990)

Unfortunately, the Roadster was not followed by a production model (although the Spider produced from 1996 to 1999 shares some of its philosophy), but it would have been interesting to see how these solutions would have been applied to cars of the 1990s.

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