Renault has unveiled its long-awaited Laguna replacement, Talisman. The new sedan will go on sale early 2016 and be joined, later on, by a larger wagon. . Measuring 4.85m long and 1.87m wide, the big French sedan is set to be offered with state-of-the-art technology and come with new innovations to the sub-premium sedan class, like four-wheel steering.

According to the organisation, the Talisman is poised to play an active part in the renewal and upgrading of the high-end range and will be manufactured at the firm’s Douai plant in France. While its status-enhancing styling ticks all the boxes that customers have come to appreciate, the evocatively-named with its assertive styling, warm, spacious cabin and comfort-enhancing innovations is delivering an even higher standard of wellbeing and driving enjoyment for its class. Inside, the cabin is spacious with class-leading rear knee room and storage space.

Its boot is also among the biggest in its class. Up front, the dash is dominated by a huge 8.7-inch portrait tablet that incorporates Renault’s latest infotainment system that allows users to two-finger zoom, like a smart phone.

Under the bonnet European buyers will be offered the choice of just one 1.6-litre turbo with either 110kW or 147kW. Both come equipped with a standard seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Three diesels will also be offered, an 80kW 1.4-litre, and 95kW and 118kW versions of the 1.6-litre diesel that’s already available in Nissan’s Qashqai.

The most powerful 118kW twin-turbo diesel comes with just a six-speed dual-clutch automatic while the lower powered variants also come with the option of six-speed manual. As already mentioned, the Talisman will also come with 4Control – Renault’s four-wheel steering that was developed on the last-generation Laguna.

The new sedan will also benefit from adaptive dampers. It comes with Full-LED front lights, a new C-shape lighting signature and permanently-lit rear lights, cowling-shielded, configurable digital instrument panel, colour head-up display, sound and lighting ambience co-ordinated by the selected Multi-Sense setting as well ventilated and massaging front seats with 10-way adjustment.