IT is a common fact that the French have carved out a niche in the world of turbo-diesel technology. Notwithstanding the Germans, they produce some of the most fuel-efficient and eco-friendly diesels around. Given the rush to turbo diesel power this year, Renault has joined the fray with its new Laguna Mk II 2.2 dCi turbo-diesel. It’s no secret that the previous Mk I petrol models failed to ignite sales – they sold just over 1500 over almost four-years - but the Phase II model, as a diesel-only offering, may provide the mid-size hatch with broader appeal.