FOR years, car makers have romantically linked their car names to air-currents across the world.

From the humble Austin Maestro, through Ford’s Zephyr and Volkswagen’s Scirocco to the meatier Maserati Ghibli and potent Pagani Zonda, motor manufacturers across the board have wistfully connected cars to elusive breezes.

Renault opted for a similar idea when it charged its motorsport arm, Renaultsport, with the production of a two-seat coupé-roadster. But it hard-headedly cut to the chase and named it Wind.

In the UK, there are more than a few obvious dangers for a car carrying that moniker on the boot, but the little roadster proved more than capable of coping with flatulence-fuelled jibes.

First the car packs a punch. The test model, one of a limited edition 200-strong ‘Collection’ spec range for the UK, was powered by a zippy 1.6-litre 133 horsepower engine, shared with Twingo Renaultsport. Mated to a short-ratio, five-speed gearbox, it’s a potent little powerplant that makes the most of the nimble chassis to deliver an involving drive.

It also delivers not a little style. The Collection model boasts a gloss black roof; chrome-effect door mirrors and roof cowls and heated seats with leather facings.

But best of all, whatever model you choose, with any hint of decent weather the carefree coupé can transform into an open-top wind-in-the-air roadster in just 12 seconds.

The hard top lifts and flips back on top of the boot, which is then protected by a metal roof cover. The huge advantage of this innovative folding system is that the sizeable boot space stays the same whether the roof is up or down.

Despite the car’s compact dimensions, the interior is surprisingly spacious, with both driver and passenger wrapped in hugging, low-set sports seats with integrated headrests.

The car’s cockpit feel is enhanced with instruments housed in profiled tunnels covered by a translucent cowl that echoes motorcycle styling. The dark charcoal interior is set off by the aluminium pedal covers, sports steering wheel and satin chrome detailing.

Built on the platform of the Clio II Renaultsport, the Slovenian-built Wind Roadster delivers a range of active and passive safety systems, including electronic stability control as standard.

Priced from £15,500, every model comes with height-adjustable steering wheel, trip computer, driver and passenger front and side airbags, and an electronic immobiliser. Upmarket Dynamique S models add cruise control, climate control, automatic headlights and wipers, Bluetooth and connection for MP3 players.

The engine choice is all petrol, either the 1.6-litre tested here or Renault’s 100 horsepower turbocharged 1.2 TCe, that is capable of day-to-day consumption of about 44mpg.

Whether you look from the front at the steeply raked bonnet; the side at the high waistline and integral roll hoop, or from the rear at the pair of boomerang-shaped rear lights, the Wind Roadster looks like nothing else on the road and ticks all the fun, faster boxes. In short, it simply blows the opposition away.

Price: £18,200 Insurance group: 19E (1-50) Fuel consumption (Combined): 40.3mpg Top speed: 125mph Length: 383.3cm/150.9in Width: 191.3cm/75.3in Luggage capacity: 9.5 cu ft Fuel tank capacity: 8.8 gallons/40 litres CO2 emissions: 165g/km Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles