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Renault will offer both a 165 bhp 2.0 Turbo and a 3.0 V6 here, and later, a turbodiesel too. We've only sampled the 210 bhp V6, which is a smooth-revving engine whose occasional cultured burbles are pleasing, even if its efforts don't quite endow the Avantime with rocketship performance. One reason is the Avantime's weight which, at 1741 kg, scales almost two tonnes - not promising for fuel economy. And a slightly unresponsive accelerator pedal heightens the impression of solid rather than breathless performance. Both the six-speed manual and the five-speed automatic allow for the very relaxed cruising that best suits the Avantime, which is not a car for screeching from A to B.
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