The concept car, presented to the public in March at the Geneva Motor Show, caused a noticeable stir. Now the applause is ringing out with renewed vigor — in honor of the production version of the Megane Coupe, which has not lost either the charisma or the striking looks of the concept. Interestingly, the front of the production car looks even more aggressive than that of the show car. And if you place the five-door hatchback next to it, the three-door looks much more advantageous, luxurious, and certainly more prestigious. Their front ends are almost identical, but the coupe has chrome trims on the air intakes. The profile of the coupe is noticeably more dynamic, and the sloping rear with a spoiler and rear lights with rectangular sections are an unequivocal success for the French stylists.
For an additional charge, an aerodynamic body kit is available for the coupe. Unsurprisingly, this Megane has already appeared on the list of cars in the cult racing arcade game Need For Speed. The front seats boast pronounced lateral support, but otherwise the interior has hardly changed. In terms of practicality, the coupe yields only slightly: the claimed trunk volume is 344 liters, which is 28 liters less than the five-door. But people don't buy a coupe for hauling cargo, but for the pleasure of driving. Therefore, Renault engineers did not overlook the suspension either.
The sporty chassis of the version received shortened springs and shock absorbers. The ground clearance decreased by 12 millimeters, and the center of gravity became lower. And finally, decent standard equipment. The list includes a stereo with MP3 support and an auxiliary input (where would we be today without an iPod!), climate control, a key card, an onboard computer, and other options.
 | |
 | CHOOSE! The range of offered engines is impressive! Petrol: 1.6 (110 hp), 2.0 (140 hp), 2.0 turbocharged (180 hp). Diesels: 1.5 (90 or 110 hp) and 1.9 (130 hp). And in 2009, three more engines are promised! |
 | |
Manufacturer's data
ENGINE
three petrol (from 110 to 180 hp)
and two diesels (from 90 to 130 hp)
DIMENSIONS (mm)
length – 4300
width – 1800
height – 1400
ON SALE
in Europe since February 2009 at a price from €19,500