Click above to view high-res gallery of the Renault Megane Concept
Renault is known for doing hatchbacks, and it does them well, but that's about it. Seeking to increase its market share, Renault's range is rapidly expanding to include a more diversified line-up. Unveiled alongside the new Laguna GT and the Koleos crossover – both also divergent models from the company's small hatch mainstream – the Megane Coupe Concept aims to show the way forward for Renault.
Although what you see here is not what will hit the road when the new Megane arrives, Renault insists that its "dynamic voluptuousness" is a direct indicator of the more fluid form its upcoming Golf-fighter will take. While everyone else was scrambling to come up with new ways to reinvent the
wheel
internal combustion engine, Renault's new concept is powered by a regular old 2-liter turbocharged four with 200 horsepower, which frankly doesn't seem that impressive considering that the Clio Renaultsport's naturally-aspirated 2.0 produces just three negligible horsepower less. Fine, so notwithstanding its F1 cars, big impressive engines aren't Renault's thing. Meanwhile, the big gullwing doors are the most obvious element to get axed along the next Megane's road to production, but if the road car bears even a passing resemblance to what could easily be labeled as Renault's most engaging show car in years, European customers will have reason to celebrate and we'll have one more entry on our list of cars we wish we could get Stateside.
Right up until its unveiling, Renault was highly secretive on the Megane Coupe Concept, revealing only that there would be a fourth model premiering in Geneva alongside the Koleos and Laguna GT. Now that the veil has been lifted, however, we've garnered all the details in the press release after the jump and Renault's images, which join our own in the gallery below. Check 'em out to learn more about Renault's vision for the future of the automobile.
PRESS RELEASE
MÉGANE COUPÉ CONCEPT:
AN EXTREME EXPRESSION OF CHARACTER AND DYNAMISM
Renault has chosen the Geneva Motor Show to take the wraps off its Mégane Coupé Concept
show car which foreshadows a compact production coupe to be released at a later date. Like New
Laguna, it points to an evolution towards more fluid, sportier styling from Renault. Mégane Coupé
Concept targets drivers who are not only drawn by the notion of driving pleasure but who also
seek to express their personality through their vehicle. Mégane Coupé Concept symbolizes
Renault's vision of what a genuine compact sports coupe should deliver, namely character and
dynamism, two traits epitomized by the show car's unprecedented door-opening kinematics.
Distinctive looks that exude personality and dynamism
Mégane Coupé Concept provides a foretaste of the forthcoming Mégane Coupe. "This show car
emphatically showcases the evolution at Renault Design. Its squatter proportions and powerful, energetic
styling talk directly to the driver's senses; they say 'driving pleasure'. The spectacular, unprecedented
door-opening kinematics add that little touch of magic which contributes to the dream factor associated
with the automobile," explains Renault's Patrick Le Quément, Senior Vice President, Corporate Design.
Of a total length of 4.51 metres, Mégane Coupé Concept features a modern, dynamic silhouette with taut
lines that seem to suggest perpetual movement, while its alert, expressive front-end looks point at once to
a truly dynamic personality.
The juxtaposition of headlamp modules with aluminium-finish air-intakes also conveys an impression of
fluidity and movement. The two rows of main and dipped beam lights sit on a crystal-like striated strip
which fills the sidelight and daytime running light functions.
The headlamps use high-performance light-emitting diodes which are both long-lasting and extremely
efficient. The foglamps also employ LED technology and blend harmoniously with the dynamic, front-end
styling.
The shoulder-lines flow along the curvaceous sides before culminating in a squat rear-end which
expresses power and movement.
The four independent tubes that make up the modern rear lights are housed in the bodywork and serve
as a further illustration of the dynamic, technological spirit behind Mégane Coupé Concept. Day or night,
they form a highly distinctive signature.
The boot, which pulls open and then lifts to minimize vertical travel, echoes the kinematics of the doors
which are divided into two sections. The panelled door itself is topped by a separate glazed area and, as
they open, the two parts deploy gracefully and elegantly in an independent movement redolent of
dragonfly wings. A carbon arm at the rear of the doors connects them to the body structure and the
system ensures particularly easy access for passengers.
In addition to its practical aspect, this technological feature reveals a cabin that blends effortlessly with
the elegance and energy expressed by the exterior.
The cabin: a compelling extension of the exterior's dynamic voluptuousness
The interior is redolent of the world of contemporary furniture. The independent, asymmetric front seats,
which rise up from the sills, seem to float in midair. Their wafer-like forms express an airy lightness, while
their enveloping design is a pledge of comfort and holds the occupants firmly in place. The aperture
revealed by the open doors carries over to the front seat shells and the upper part of the two rear seats.
This sculptural, one-piece structure, which is finished in fire red lacquer, ensures a seamless link between
the exterior and the cabin. The centre console extends through to the rear seats and its layered design
recalls the striated bar of the headlamp modules.
The futuristic, ethereal dashboard features expressive, flowing lines and can be divided into two distinct
sections: the red lacquered main structure and black nubuck inserts which can hold small items. This
embedded zone houses the sophisticated instrumentation which takes its inspiration from aviator-style
watches, including a speedometer which displays the speed in analogue form on the periphery and in
digital form in the centre, plus an analogue rev-counter. Both feature black metallic backgrounds with
white graphics and red backlighting.
The choice of colours and materials is another means by which the exterior and interior have been
harmonized to highlight Mégane Coupé Concept's volumes and magic.
The iridescent Dragon Grey body-colour goes well with the dragonfly-like door-opening mechanism and
the paintwork's rainbow finish gives a fresh vision of the car every time the light changes: even at a
standstill, it appears to be in movement. Meanwhile, the interior's contrasting colour-scheme underpins
the dynamic exterior thanks to the blend of fire red lacquer (dashboard, upper part of the centre console,
front seatbacks, etc.) and softer black leather or nubuck for the door panels, seat cushions and centre
console). The door panels themselves incorporate supple, slide-locking stowage, while the floor is
protected by a black, modern, graphic mesh.
Carrying over the red of the interior, there are hints of red outside, too, including the roofline, foglamp
surrounds, wheel spokes and exhaust tailpipes.
The cabin equipment is modern and intuitive
The different controls have been inspired by the Renault-pioneered Touch Design approach and are both
simple and practical. The central multimedia control is coupled with a display divided into three zones.
The central part displays all journey-related information (navigation, radio, music, video, Bluetooth®
telephone), while the screens either side show the images relayed by cameras incorporated in the
exterior mirrors. Mégane Coupé Concept is locked and unlocked using a Samsung F700 mobile phone
which serves as a hands-free card and connects to the centre console. Both rear passengers benefit from
a portable Samsung P2 audio/video multimedia player with touch screen which they can use to swap files
using the mp3/video Bluetooth controls.
The four-zone climate control system allows each passenger to select the temperature they prefer using
controls housed either side of the dashboard in the case of the front passengers or on the front seatbacks
for rear occupants.
Special care has also gone into ensuring that the cabin is brightly lit. The red backlighting of the
instruments contrasts with the surrounding black backgrounds. Meanwhile, the panoramic windscreen
extends over the roof to provide additional clarity during the day and blue-hued cabin lighting at night.
A show car dedicated to passion and driving pleasure
Mégane Coupé Concept's generous bumper, wide, low grille and alveolar air-intake point to the presence
of a high-performance powerplant under the bonnet.
Indeed, Mégane Coupé Concept is powered by a 200hp (147kW) 2.0 Turbo petrol engine which delivers
torque of 280Nm at 2,600rpm and peak power of 200hp at 5,800rpm to ensure punch and flexibility at all
engine speeds for everyday motoring pleasure. Mated to a manual six-speed gearbox, the 2-litre
turbocharged unit drives Mégane Coupé Concept from a standstill to 100kph in just 7.2 seconds, yet it
returns economical fuel consumption of just 6.5 litres/100km (154g of CO2/km).
In order to exploit this engine to the full, Mégane Coupé Concept features a sport chassis, plus
suspension and steering engineered to guarantee precise, responsive handling.
This promise is compounded by the 21-inch aluminium alloy, seven-spoke, satin-finish Dragon Grey
wheels equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres (245/35) which provide outstanding grip for even greater
driving pleasure.
Mégane Coupé Concept is a compact, stylish, dynamic coupe which delivers undeniable driving pleasure,
while its sporty calling is also expressed by its modern, elegant cabin.
This show car, which builds on the trend established by Laguna Coupé Concept, sees Renault take its
will to dial genuine passion into its cars yet another step forward.
Dimensions
Length (mm) 4,514
Width (mm) 1,908
Height (mm) 1,371
Height with doors open (mm) 2,085
Wheelbase (mm) 2,749
Front track (mm) 1,658
Rear track (mm) 1,648
Front overhang (mm) 950
Rear overhang (mm) 815
Unladen weight (kg) 1,310
Boot volume (litres) 290
Technical data
Engine 2.0 T petrol (200hp)
Power (hp) 200hp (147kW)
Maximum torque (Nm) 280Nm at 2,600rpm
Acceleration from standstill to 100kph (s) 7.2
Standard cycle CO2 emissions / fuel consumption 154g/km / 6.5 litres/100km
Gearbox Six-speed manual gearbox
with 'stop and start' system
Transmission Front-wheel drive
Tyres 245/35 ZR21
Wheels 21-inch
Partners
G Studio Auto design
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tyres
Samsung Telephone for starting Mégane
Coupé Concept and controlling
MP3/MPEG4 playback for rear
seats (multimedia and telephony)
Parasite Sunglasses
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