Official photos and details of the new Mégane Coupé

In the end it isn’t called Sport, as had been said in the latest spy photos, but Coupé: the three-door variant of the newly launched third generation of the French compact. This version is presented as the young, sporty Mégane of the range, with styling quite different from the five-door version.

On the outside, the front differs from the five-door Mégane with a redesigned bumper, and the side and the rear have modern lines that make it very attractive, although it may not offer much rear visibility because of the tailgate glass. The interior, on the other hand, lacks the magnetism of the bodywork, but the original dashboard and the seats stand out.

The suspension and steering of the Coupé have been set up to deliver the response associated with its look, and with a ride height 12 mm lower than the five-door or stiffer springs, the resulting handling is more sporty. Its body is also 8 kilograms lighter than that of the previous generation.

In the range of diesel engines are the 85 and 105 hp dCi that were already known, plus the new 90 and 110 hp versions, the latter with a particulate filter, which emit less than 120 grams of CO2 per kilometre. A 130 hp version is added, emitting 135 grams, and next year they will be joined by a 160 hp and a 150 hp paired with an automatic transmission.

As for the petrol engines, these will vary depending on the market, but will include the 110 hp 1.6 16v, the 140 hp 2.0 16v and the new 180 hp TCe. In spring of next year a 130 hp TCe will join them. These engines can be paired with manual and automatic transmissions of five or six speeds depending on the version. There will also be engines that can run on biofuels.

As is customary with Renault, the safety equipment is very complete, with features such as bi-xenon headlights with cornering light system, tyre pressure monitoring, ABS, EBD and, depending on the version, ESP and understeer control system come as standard.

The equipment list also includes air conditioning (dual-zone as an option), keyless entry and start system, Carminat navigation with DVD, GPS, MP3 and Bluetooth, an Arkamys sound system, or a USB and iPod port area in the centre console.

The new Mégane goes on sale next month and promises to be a generation that has evolved favourably to remain among the best in the segment.

Source | Renault