YOU might think that in a world where the traffic warden and congestion charge rule, that all the fun had been taken out of driving - well, say hello to the Mgane Renaultsport 225.

First deliveries of the new Mgane will be in May, and orders can be placed at any Renault dealer now to be at the front of the queue. And a queue there is likely to be if sales of the recently introduced Mgane Coup-Cabriolet are anything to go by, which has a six-month waiting list with new orders now being quoted for September delivery.

Available as either a three-door Sport Hatch, for £19,500, or five-door Hatch, for £20,000 on-the-road, the Mgane joins its two stablemates, the new Clio Renaultsport 182 and Clio Renaultsport V6 255, both of which are also new arrivals in the showrooms in the last few months.

This country is the largest market in the world for Renaultsport products, with more than 2,500 Clios sold here last year.

The UK lower-medium sports sector has grown significantly over the last six years, from 5,000 in 1998 to over 25,000 in 2003 with cars like the Honda Civic Type-R, Audi A3 quattro/S3, Alfa 147 GTA, Subaru Impreza WRX and two models now discontinued, the Ford Focus RS and VW Golf R32.

The Renaultsport badge on the back of a car means you can expect class-topping levels of performance and excitement. The Mgane 225 fits between the two Clios offering top-notch performance in a comfortable car.

With a new two-litre turbocharged four cylinder engine developing 225hp at 5,500rpm and 300Nm of torque providing horizon-shrinking power at only 3,000rpm, the Mgane 225 can zip from 0-62mph in just 6.5 seconds. This compares to 7.1 seconds for the Clio 182 and 5.8 seconds for the hard-core two-seater Clio V6 255. Proving the efficiency of this Renaultsport developed turbo-charged engine are fuel consumption figures that are the best in class - urban driving 24.6mpg and extra urban 40.4mpg giving a combined cycle of 32.1mpg.

Equipment levels are high, with air-conditioning, cruise control with speed-limiter (could be very useful!), six-disc CD multi-changer and part leather upholstery.

Car colours for our roads include Inferno, Steel Grey, Arctic Blue, Moonlight Blue and Black Gold. There are four interior treatments. As standard is part leather, part charcoal cloth upholstery with silver grey detailing. A no-cost option is the rather smart orange detailing that is orange stitching on the steering wheel, gearknob and gaiter surround, handbrake, door panels and seats and orange seatbelts.

Updated: 09:44 Friday, April 16, 2004