Renault’s Mégane To Be Offered With A Plug-In Hybrid Option
The Renault Mégane has been around since 1995 and sold more than 7 million units. The fourth generation is now either getting a major facelift or this will be a new generation of Mégane altogether. Why are we uncertain? It is a bit of still the same with a lot of brand new and a healthy dollop of wow!
E-TECH Plug-in hybrid
The one brand new big thing is the E-TECH Plug-in hybrid engine, initially offered in the Estate across all trim levels, but due for the hatchback a bit later. The advantage of a plug-in hybrid is that your normal commute can happen purely on cheaper and cleaner electric power, while on longer trips and weekends away it gives you the versatility of a petrol engine. As a hybrid, you will also recover energy to the battery during deceleration and braking.
The E-TECH power comes for the 120kW hybrid motor. A 9.8kWh battery lets you run between 50km 65km depending on the driving conditions. The engine consists of a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol and two electric motors. Transmission is a multi-mode clutch-less gearbox.
There are three custom setting which can be selected on-screen. You can select Pure for a full-electric drive, as long as you have enough power in your batteries. There is MySense, which optimises the hybrid mode for lower running costs. This setting has an E-Save feature which conserves battery power for later. And if you are in no mood to spare the horses, you press Sport. This unleashes maximum power by combining all three engines. There are setting for the internal combustion engine Méganes, but these are obviously slightly different.
Internal combustion engines
The new Mégane comes with a variety of conventional engines as well.
The popular petrol 1.3 TCe FAP is still there, coming in 86kW, 104kW and 120kW, with a 74.5kW eco version as well.
The 86 and 74.5kW versions only come with a six-speed manual, while the 104kW comes gives you a choice of six-speed manual or dual-clutch seven-speed EDC auto. The 120kW has the EDC auto only. A 1.0 TCe 90kW engine with low consumption and CO2 is also in the pipeline.
In diesel you have two versions of the Blue dCi low pollution engines to choose from: the 71kW eco engine six-speed manual and the 86kW with dual-clutch seven-speed auto for those that drive a lot.
Exterior
The Mégane’s exterior is an evolution of the popular lines of the current model. The lines are more sculpted and dynamic, giving the car a more sophisticated character.
The current halogen lights have been replaced with LED Pure Vision tech throughout the range. These lights increase the headlight beams by nearly 30%, giving greater visibility and safety. The taillights and fog lights are now also LED.
In front, it features a new bumper and lower grille, while at the back the taillights incorporate dynamic indicators – the kind that shows movement in the direction you intend to turn. There are other new exterior features, such as the door-handle lights.
Interior looks and functionality
A brand-new digital dashboard based on a 10.2-inch (version dependent) and 9.3-inch vertical tablet is the Renault EASY-LINK connected multimedia system, offering the entire range of multimedia, navigation and infotainment.
It also offers multi-sense, an all-encompassing system that controls things like steering, ambient lighting, but also allows you to tailor your driving mode. You can choose eco-mode to reduce fuel consumption and CO2, comfort mode with softer suspension, sport mode – self-evident – or MySense, where you can tailor your drive.
The new Mégane is due for European release in their summer 2020, so we won’t see it here for a while. But to see the French flair currently available here, have a look at the Mégane range on our showroom floors.
