MOTORING NEWS - In a move similar to French rival Citroën’s C4 and C5 X, Renault has taken the wraps off the all-new Megane at the IAA in Munich, reimagined as a crossover and powered by an electric powerunit.
The biggest shake-up in the Megane’s 26-year history, the newcomer, officially called the Megane E-Tech, not only changes segments and bodystyles, but moves from the CMF-D platform used since 2016, to the dedicated CMF-EV also used by the Nissan Ariya.
Reportedly not replacing the current fifth generation Megane outright, the E-Tech, which forms part of Renault’s Renaultution electric vehicle strategy, measures 4 210 mm in overall length with its wheelbase rated at 2 700 mm, height at 1 500 mm and width at 1 780 mm.
Riding on 20-inch alloy wheels and sporting less of a coupe-like roofline than the Ariya, the E-Tech, which comes as standard with electric door handles, features a new interior dubbed “OpenR” seen on concept models revealed as far back as 2016.
Highlighted by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a nine-inch tablet-like infotainment system with a bigger ten-inch display offered on pricier models, the latter systems feature Renault’s latest software technology with the former offering a choice of four readouts.
With most of the veneers and textiles inside being made out of recycled materials, the E-Tech also boasts total cabin storage volume of 30-litres with total boot capacity, with the rear seats up, of 440-litres.
Incorporating an array of safety and driver assistance systems allowing for level 2 autonomous driving where permitted, the E-Tech derives motivation from an LG developed lithium-ion battery pack that weighs 395 kg and measures 110 mm in height, one of the thinnest ever made, according to Renault.
For Europe, the battery will have two outputs; a 40-kWh unit that produces 96kW/250Nm and the 60-kWh 160kW/300Nm. Further equipped with regenerative braking, the Megane E-Tech has a claimed range of 300 km for the former with the latter, despite weighing 1 624 kg, able to travel 470 km between trips to the plug.
On sale in Europe from March next year with pricing to be announced later, the Megane E-Tech, like the facelifted “conventional” model, won’t be offered in South Africa anytime soon.
For more on Renault South Africa’s product plans, click here.
