THE Renault Avantime may take some getting used to with its off-the-wall design and looks, but it's going to be a winner.

Frankly, if Renault think they can draw a line under the 1,500 projected sales projected for the United Kingdom for next year then they are in for a jolt. This car is good. It will sell rapidly and the Brits will be calling out for more.

Avantime is a surprise from first glance. Despite having an idea of what to expect after seeing the concept at the Geneva Motor Show a couple of years ago, it is a car of contrasts and surprises.

Enjoy its smooth and thrusting front lines, stealth bomber-like with its V-shaped headlamps, and then trot around to the back and really it is like no other, with a huge rear window set forward from the luggage compartment. If there has to be a comparison then the back of the Avantime leans towards the front of the Fiat Multipla.

Renault is steering the Avantime into the coupe market because of its two-door design, but it's more MPV to look at. In fact I'll go further and say it is more two-door Grand Tourismo, blissfully comfortable and quiet, plenty of room for all, and capable of ironing out any aches and pains normally resulting from long-distance driving. Its driving position is Espace-like but altogether more classy.

There are going to be two trim levels available here, the £24,000 2.0-litre turbo Dynamique and the £27,000 3.0-litre V6 Privilege, and whichever model is chosen to step into, then driver and passengers will wallow in comfort, and also be reassured by the car's safety features.