Visionary and daring - two of Renault Design’s guiding principles over the last few years and something which can be seen in the bold new Renault Avantime GT Coupé. Its "stand-out" styling might smack you right between the eyes but the technology and ability of this cutting-edge 21st century design has seen it awarded Car of the Year by Automotive Engineer magazine and winner of the Specialist Car category in the BBC Top Gear 2002 awards.

Already on sale in France since the end of last year, the two-door Avantime hits UK showrooms this Spring, around the same time as the Renault Vel Satis, its five-door saloon stablemate which is set to offer a radical alternative in the Executive sector.

Car of the Year - Automotive Engineer

Automotive Engineer magazine presented its first ever Car of the Year award to Avantime after consideration of four key factors. Overall engineering, technological innovations, manufacturing techniques and the overall design. The other shortlisted designs were the BMW 7 series, Fiat Stilo, Honda Civic, Jaguar X-Type, Mercedes-Benz SL, MINI, Peugeot 307 and Toyota Corolla.

Automotive Engineer concluded " Avantime is an adventurous, futuristic car that only one or two car manufacturers can get away with. Nowadays you expect such exciting designs to come from Renault. It will make a welcome addition to the roads."

Best Specialist Car - BBC Top Gear

A runner-up in the Coupe category, Top Gear awarded Avantime the title of Best Specialist Car, a category for "those round pegs in a square-holed world, the winner being the most original of them all".

This award recognises that if you have to nominate one category for Avantime to be put in then two-door GT Coupé is probably the closest you can get, but Avantime also offers many benefits from other categories which sees it appealing to many different people. With the interior space and comfort of a conventional saloon, the visibility, ease of access and airiness of an MPV and the high-up driving position and "stand-out" styling that 4x4 owners enjoy, Avantime certainly deserves its title of being the most original of them all.

Avantime

Available in two versions, the new 2-litre turbo petrol engine produces 165bhp and comes with the mid-range Dynamique trim. The 3-litre V6 petrol engine comes with the luxury Privilege trim which includes items such as leather upholstery. Guide prices are between £24,000 and £27,000. Final prices and equipment specifications will be revealed in the Spring when Avantime reaches UK showrooms.