Ad Watch: Renault Wind Roadster and Lexus CT 200h Hybrid

Selling a car through advertising isn’t as easy as you might think. What good is it showing your product nimbly taking on Alpine twists and turns when your competitors are doing the same thing? Here are two ads that don’t really break the mould, but try something a little different. Read more »

Renault Wind Tuned by Elia coming to Essen Motor Show

After SEMA and more recently the ongoing LA Auto Show, next up on our motor show calendar is Europe's largest tuning event that takes place n the city of Essen, Germany from November 27 to December 5. Speeding to this year's Essen show is a new tuning proposal for the freshly launched Renault Wind by Elia.

The German tuning house said the package for the Twingo-based roadster model will include some subtle aero parts along with LED daytime running lights and 18 inch alloy wheels shod in 205/35 tires up front and beefier 235/30 tires at the back. Though it would make the package more desirable, unfortunately, the lady with the hot shorts and high-heel pumps is not part of Elia's offerings.

Performance upgrades will come in the form of a sport suspension and an ECU tune that promises to add 16HP and 28Nm of torque, though Elia didn't clarify if the software tune is for the 100HP 1.2-liter Turbo or the 133HP 1.6-liter engine

We'll have more details on the tune from the Essen Show next week.

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Geneva Show: Renault Wind, a French Take on the Small Roadster

This week's Geneva Motor Show sees Renault celebrate the world premiere of the Wind, a 3.83 meter-long two-seater coupe-roadster based on the Twingo's platform and mechanical hardware that features an unusual set up with a central roof panel that pivots open in 12 seconds and stows away below the boot.

Renault says that the novel roof system ensures that the Wind's boot space remains the same at 270 liters regardless of whether the roof is up or down. A boot cover protects the roof from dust and water when in the open position.

At launch, the pint-sized French roadster will be offered with a choice of two gasoline engines, the Twingo GT's 1.2-liter TCe turbo producing 100 horsepower and the Twingo RS's 1.6-liter unit delivering 133 horsepower.

Following its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the Renault Wind will go on sale in Europe during the summer.