The message is familiar – onward and upward to a cleaner, greener, more fuel efficient future. Coming soon is a world of hybrids and fuel cells, electric power and variable transmissions, not only for Renault but also for partners Nissan, and all building on work already under way.

Renault President Carlos Ghosn, the man who saved Nissan and who is now completely revitalising the French half of the partnership, cites the example of improving economy and shrinking emissions; Renault, he says, already sits amongst the top three European car makers for both.

In 2005 almost one in five Renaults emitted less than 120g/km of CO2; by 2008 they’re targeting one in three below that level, and more than a million beating 140g/km. But they plan to bring down fuel consumption while at least maintaining, and preferably improving, performance – or costs. In 1993, he says, a 93bhp Renault 19 1.9 DT diesel could drive from Paris to Montpellier (we are in France, remember), or 750km, on a full tank, emitting 172g/km CO2. By 2000 a 100bhp Megane 1.9 dTi would carry on cruising to Monaco on the same tank. And today, a 105bhp Megane 1.5 dCi will go all the way to Venice, and spit out just 120g/km.

So like most of the industry, Renault are not only talking, they’re doing. They’re optimising conventional engines, pushing diesel, and looking at bio-fuels – made from organic, usually vegetable material whose growing process significantly offsets emissions that otherwise aren’t greatly different from petrol - but which overall means a CO2 reduction of around 70 per cent, ‘well to wheel’.

Working to ‘Renault Commitment 2009’, they will be introducing new cars at an unprecedented rate – with 26 new models totally to rebuild the range. They describe it as a ‘product offensive’, but if the directions previewed here by the new Koleos Concept and next generation Twingo Concept are any guide, the product itself will be far from offensive.

The Koleos is a tough but sporty 4x4, designed between the Renault Design team in Europe and Renault Samsung design centre in Korea. They say it’s built for adventure, but its 2.0 dCi piezo-injection, variable-geometry turbodiesel obeys all the rules mentioned above. And it’s roomy and full of techy equipment.

The new Twingo Concept is the really striking one, though, visually at least. Described as 90 per cent true to the production version due in mid-2007, it is a terrific looking three-door hatch, as sporty and muscular as the original Twingo was mild and unremarkable. It is tall and wedgy in the best way, with big wheels pushed right out to the corners, and it uses a ‘new generation TCE100 engine’ – a 100bhp 1.2-litre turbo with low consumption and low CO2 emissions.

And presumably it will still look terrific as it motors into the toe of Italy still on that same tank of gas. That’s progress for you…