Paris '08 Preview: Renault Megane III made officially official
As its expansive name might suggest, the Megane is a hugely important car for Renault, competing in the same highly competitive segment as the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. But while the rest of Renault's range – including the Clio, Twingo and Laguna – has seen recent replacement, the second-generation Megane has carried on essentially unchanged for six years. The Megane won't have to wait any longer as Renault has properly released photos and details of its new mid-range vehicle, anticipated for unveiling at next month's Paris Motor Show.
The new Megane's styling takes cues from the concept unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this past March, but seems to share more in common with the larger Laguna sedan. The Megane also promises to deliver significant improvements in terms of quality and equipment levels over the model it replaces. A new analogue/digital instrument cluster is incorporated, along with an intuitive color-coded cruise control module, hands-free entry and ignition and Bluetooth DVD sat-nav system. Powertrain options range from 100-hp to 180-hp gasoline engines and diesel choices ranging from 85 to 150 hp, all of which are mated to a range of five- and six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.
Renault says no fewer than six different versions of the Megane will hit the market by 2010, each developed as its own model to give each its own individual identity. We'll venture a guess at a three-door hatch, five-door hatch, four-door sedan and wagon. A hard-top convertible would also be a safe bet. But what enthusiasts want is the Renaultsport version, as the French automaker has long commanded attention in the hot hatch realm.
We'll be on hand to check out the first version in Paris, but in the meantime you can check out the gallery of high-resolution images in the gallery below and the press release and video after the jump.
Gallery: 2009 Renault Megane
[Source: Renault]
PRESS RELEASE
NEW RENAULT MÉGANE
ALLURING, INTUITIVE AND REASSURING
New Renault Mégane's lines are the product of a desire to produce an immediately eyecatching car. Its dynamic, elegant styling takes its inspiration from the passion associated with the automobile, including cues from the world of sport. New Renault Mégane is robust, too, with the accent very much on the fit and finish of its panels, as well as on that of the materials it employs. The new model has also benefited from the progress that has been achieved across the Renault range on both the reliability and durability fronts.
New Renault Mégane's interior is extensively equipped with practical, comfort-enhancing features. These include combined analogue/digital instruments incorporating a new, easier to read colour-coded cruise control/speed limiter interface. The list continues with a host of equipment normally associated with the next segment up, such as hands-free entry and ignition, automatic locking as the driver walks away from the car, a Carminat Bluetooth® DVD navigation system and a custom-developed audio system (3D Sound by Arkamys®).
New Renault Mégane's on-road performance lives up every bit to the high standard promised by its looks, with precision, control and efficiency combining to deliver a particularly enjoyable and reassuring ride. A broad, extensively renewed range of dCi and TCe powerplants combining performance and respect for the environment is available, with four diesel engines that can claim CO2 emissions equal to, or less than, 120g/km.
New Renault Mégane has been designed to offer best-in-class safety performance, too. Features include double side impact sensors and dual-chamber airbags as seen on Laguna III and aimed at minimizing the consequences of a side-on collision.
It is also a socially responsible vehicle which is 95 per cent end-of-life recoverable by weight, while almost 12 per cent of the plastics it contains are sourced from recycling, equivalent to an average of 22kg per car.
New Renault Mégane marks the beginning of Renault's renewal of its C-segment line-up. With market share of more than a third, this segment has long been the biggest in Western Europe and makes a significant contribution to Renault's performance in terms of both volume and profitability.
By 2010, the New Mégane family will include six different models, each of which will have its own distinct and assertive personality. These six models have been conceived essentially for customers in European markets and will be manufactured in Palencia (Spain) and Douai (France). Other models will be available in non-European markets equipped with specific technical solutions suited to local conditions of use.
For almost two years, Renault's design and engineering teams focused their attention on three main areas of development, namely reinforcing the personality of each member of the Mégane line-up, ensuring a balanced offer in terms of performance and equipment, and targeting best-in-class positioning for all of its key features.
New Renault Mégane, which goes on sale from November 2008, comes after the 15th car of the Renault Commitment 2009 plan and consequently benefits fully from the progress achieved in terms of quality on preceding models.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jgp 4:03PM (9/09/2008)
I hate what that stupid pedo safety law did to the front ends of all European cars...
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Mehdi Cheddadi 4:05PM (9/09/2008)
...pedo safety law? that sounds soo wrong...
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Mattias 4:05PM (9/09/2008)
Number five will be the coupé/convertible and number six the Scénic, a van with five or seven seats.
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Erik 4:09PM (9/09/2008)
I would prefer the "Megane III" if they switched the 'g' and and the 'n'.
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zamafir 4:12PM (9/09/2008)
oh sweet the new MKVI golf.
wait.
what?
sad.
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Jared 7:38PM (9/09/2008)
that was my exact thought
X3S2000 4:16PM (9/09/2008)
This would make a very nice Versa 2.0...
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SPG 4:27PM (9/09/2008)
Another fantastic looking French car.
That I won't ever grace the streets of NA.
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No Welfare for GM 4:27PM (9/09/2008)
I really hope that this is the car Chrysler will get in return for giving Nissan Ram. It looks great.
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F-22 4:50PM (9/09/2008)
No way...
Renault is not going to give such a car like the Megane III to Chrysler because of a ("cheap")Nissan deal!
Ken Stamper 4:57PM (9/09/2008)
Very handsome IMHO, but there is no way this would sell at a price-competitive level unless Renault/Nissan manufactured it in NA. As it is now if Nissan tried importing these things from France it would end up like the Astra. Maybe they could use the excess capacity at some Chrysler plants.
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cc 10:06PM (9/09/2008)
The Megane is actually built on a shared Sentra platform; I doubt we'll see that car being updated for a while as it just debuted a year or so back.
I'd love to see a more Megane-like Sentra in the future... hell, I'd be happy to see one that looks more like its Japanese platform mate, the Nissan Sylphy. That car has a "baby Infiniti" look to it that I love...
Mike 5:47PM (9/09/2008)
I had the opportunity to drive the last generation Megane 5 dr in Portugal on vacation 3years ago.I was impressed with the features and the ride quality(oh yeah the seats were pretty comfy too).The diesel engine it had in it was frugal and had more than sufficient power to cruise at 130km/hr.Overall I think this new model is a little more mainstream stylewise, but a decent looking little ride,hopefully next trip to Europe I can rent one.
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John 5:50PM (9/09/2008)
Je la trouve plutôt réussie, lignes fluides et dynamiques. L'intérieur semble assez qualitatif. Elle va marcher !
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PJ 6:34PM (9/09/2008)
Nice. But the design isn't nearly as striking as the previous-gen Megane was when it debuted in 2002. Is it just me, or has this decade's Bangle-esque design language reached the point where most new cars look more or less the same, as they did in the mid-'90s?
of course, being French, it's got to have some off-the-wall quirks, and that backlit digital gauge puddle and "Power" button masquerading as a cigarette lighter are pretty odd touches.
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Miguel 7:01PM (9/09/2008)
On the 90's front, it's not just you...but I'm not complaining. I'm no fan of Bangle's ongoing destruction of BMW's design language, but the new Hyundai Sonata looks like a different design direction that the mid-90's Accords could have taken, and I'm a big fan of that (the 4th-6th generation Accords are still some of my favorite bland family sedans).
The Megane, however...I'm not sure I see Bangle's evil influence back to the 90's in this design. Looks more like Renault went "Oh, the Astra is selling well over here in Europe...let's go with something like that look."
HAWC1506 6:13PM (9/09/2008)
A 9-3, Rabbit, and a yacht had a threesome and out came the Megane.
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UH2L 6:17PM (9/09/2008)
Unbelievably beautiful inside and out with a lot of complex detail on the front end to make up for the pedestrian impact effects.
I would buy one in a minute. It's like a more sensuous Mazda 3.
UH2L(.com)
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Torrent 7:37PM (9/09/2008)
there's a lot of creases on that car....
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Paul M. Watson 8:34PM (9/09/2008)
I thought the "new" (refreshed) Laguna was nothing special until I saw it in the flesh. A handsome car. This could be the same; good in the flesh.
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