RENAULT'S Modus supermini, launched here last year, continues to attract a growing band of fans, with sales now running ahead of target at more than 10,000 since its UK unveiling.

Now, two new special editions have been readied to capture sales in the summer months - Modus Oasis and Modus Maxim - both with air conditioning as standard.

The Modus continues to attract rave reviews from the Press, most recently being voted Diesel Car Magazine's 2005 Supermini of the Year. The previous three years had seen Clio dCi 65, 80 and 100 respectively, win the Supermini award, but new Modus elbowed aside its stablemate, borrowing its engines and wrapping them up in a stylish and spacious new bodyshell.

The Modus Oasis is based on the existing Expression trim, and is available in four engine choices - two petrol and two diesel. Prices start from £10,100 for the petrol 1.2-litre 16V 75, rising to £11,500 for the dCi 86 IF Euro IV.

Renault's other Modus special edition, Maxim, is based on the sporty Dynamique trim, but has more than £1,100 worth of additional equipment. Available with a choice of six engines, three petrol and three diesel, prices for the Maxim start at £11,200 for the 1.4-litre 16V 98, rising to £12,800 for the new engine Maxim dCi 106.

The Oasis also offers £700 worth of additional standard features to the lower mid-range Expression trim, on which it is based on. These include air conditioning, "Boot Chute" double opening tailgate and "Kaleidoscope" red upholstery.

The innovative Boot Chute is a split-opening tailgate which can either be opened as a complete door as normal, or by section - the lower half is hinged at the bottom to rest loads on if necessary. Not only that, if in a confined parking space and the boot door cannot be fully opened, a useful chute allows easy access to the boot.

Prices for Modus Oasis are: 1.2-litre 16V 75 £10,100; 1.4-litre 16V 98 £10,600; dCi 68 Euro IV £11,000; dCi 86 Euro IV £11,500.

There is a choice of three option packs also available, which are Storage, Techno and Handling.

Modus Maxim has a style all of its own with specific distinctive charcoal grey seat upholstery exclusive to this special edition, and also provides standard equipment over and above Dynamique, including air conditioning, cruise control, 16-inch alloy wheels and 60W single CD stereo.

Available in a wide range of engines, three petrol and three diesel, the Maxim top of the range version is the new more powerful dCi 106 IF Euro IV six-speed engine, which develops 106hp at 4,000rpm and 240Nm of torque at 2,000rpm.

The high-performance engine offers a 0-62mph dash of 11.2 seconds, and fuel economy of 60.1mpg on the combined cycle.

Prices for the New Modus Maxim are: Maxim 1.4-litre 16 98 £11,200; 1.6-litre 16V 113 £11,700; 1.6-litre 16V 113 auto £12,705; dCi 86 IF Euro IV £12,100; dCi 86 IF Euro IV QS5 £12,600; dCi 106 IF Euro IV £12,800.

Maxim customers also have the choice of four option packs. The storage pack adds stowage area under the driver's seat and a luggage net and costs £100. The town pack includes the handy Boot Chute and storage pack and costs £250; the techno pack for £1,100 offers underseat stowage, six-CD multi-changer/RDS radio with additional single CD and Carminat satellite navigation (with turn-by-turn function and voice messages) and, finally, the handling pack for £450 including electronic stability system, traction control and understeer control together with tyre pressure monitor.

Dealers: Dixon Renault, Clifton Moorgate, Clifton Moor, York (01904 667300); Barker Smith, The Showroom, Welham Road, Norton, Malton (01653 693383).

Updated: 12:53 Friday, June 17, 2005