Megane

Renault has confirmed the unveiling of an Alpine concept at this weekend's Formula One Grand Prix de Monaco, but as we get closer there are new details alongisde new questions. Just yesterday came the Jonathon Ramsey

If Jesus had treated Lazarus' resurrection like Renault has treated that of its Alpine brand, Lazarus would have politely requested, "Please, leave me alone." In 2008, the Alpine'

Fifth Gear host Tiff Needell had such a good time throwing the Renault Sport Megane 265 Trophy around the track that it made him ask a silly question. Could the 261-horsepower, front-wheel drive, four-seat hot hatch lap quicker than the 324-hp, rear-wheel drive, two-seat Nissan 370Z?

You know, we can live without the Laguna and the Scenic. We really can. But when it comes down to the hot hatches, well... we kinda wish we could get out driving gloves on some Renault models on this side of the Atlantic. Certain models in specific, like the Megane 265 Trophy.

Renault R-Space Concept - Click above to watch video after the jump

Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Renault Laguna, Scenic, Megane and Megane Coupe-Cabriolet were designed by Renault, built by Renault factories in France, and have all earned five stars in European NCAP tests. They have also all been banned by China's General Administration of Quality Supervision Inspection and Quarantine for "serious safety risks" and inadherence to technical regulations.

In the run up to next month's Geneva Motor Show, Renault has launched a teaser site counting down the days until the reveal of the Renault Megane RS. We captured the image above from the darkened animation and after a few Photoshop tweaks, we were able to tease out some of the design details of Renault's new hot hatch.

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Renault Megane Trophy concept

Click on picture above for complete gallery

While French authorities go after the journalists and photographers who obtained images of the new Renault Megane, an undisguised, production-ready example of the vehicle was spied undergoing testing right here in the good old US of A.

While most of our recent hot hatch affection has been aimed at the Ford Focus RS, Renault brought its own racy three-door to the London Motor Show party, and now we're torn. Admittedly, the Focus RS is easily the more suitable day-to-day driver – it's got a full interior and air conditioning -- but the Renaultsport Megane R26.R has all the kit for a serious track-day assault. Hell, it even has two Rs in its name.

If you're in France, the phrase caveat emptor can probably be joined by caveat reporter after police raided the French magazine Auto Plus. The po-po were called last August to begin an investigation because the magazine published detailed photos of the coming Renault Megane, which Renault said wasn't supposed to hit showrooms for another three years. The raid was the next step in the Sherlock Holmes treatment.

Small yet powerful. This is the premise of the many new generation small turbocharged engines that are making appearances left and right, like in recent offerings from Volkswagen (TFSI) and Fiat (T-Jet). We've already covered the Xavier Navarro

Relentless deal maker Carlos Ghosn has never stopped looking for any partnership that would give Renault a plum position in a profitable market. Already close to a Nissan deal with Chrysler working on Renault and Nissan deals in the Middle East, his latest paramour is in Russia. Ghosn has se