First look: Radical Renault Megane

THIS is the unique look of Renault's new generation Megane small car, which had its world unveiling in France this week and will be hitting our shores starting in March or April of next year.

The five-door hatchback you see here was unveiled along with the three-door - also called a coupe by Renault. They are the first two of up to six Megane II variants which should all be here by the middle of 2004.

The others you can expect to see are a sedan, five and seven-seat monospace replacements for the Scenic and a metal-roofed cabrio, which succeeds the cloth-roofed version currently sold in Australia.

Only the new station wagon Megane is not pencilled in for Australian launch. A replacement for the RX4 4WD is yet to be confirmed.

All are expected to share current Renault styling cues - a twin-nostril grille, large headlights and the huge Renault logos stamped into the nose and tail.

It is a look which has already been seen on the niche Avantime three-door and the Vel Satis luxury car, but in Australia we really only get a hint of it in the Clio "premium light" range.

The distinctive rear-end of the five-door caught in our photograph here is also a styling feature which has flowed down the range, particularly from the Avantime.

The Megane will be more than an individual looker. The company is hopeful Megane will become the first NCAP five-star small car and is said to be developing rear side airbags for it and the new Espace. It will also come with the card entry system that debuted with Laguna.

Both petrol and diesel engine choices will be offered in Europe, but expect the offerings in Australia to be pared back to a couple of the upper petrol choices which consist of 1.6 and 2.0 VVT units and possibly a turbo 2.0-litre which the European press say is earmarked for the cabrio.

Gearbox choice is said to be just as wide with five or six-speed manuals and a sequential semi-automatic. A CVT designed in conjunction with Nissan has also been rumoured.

Underpinning the car will be an all-new C-platform and suspension that will also be used to build global alliance partner Nissan's next generation Pulsar, due in 2004.

Renault Australia is promising the new generation Megane range should be competitively priced and equipped.

"Our philosophy is that we have - even by European standards - very, very well equipped cars from entry level upwards and the Megane will be no exception," said Renault Australia director Richard Wilson.

He also expressed confidence that Australians would take to the unique styling.

"They (the Megane range) are very Renault, I think they express Renault's philosophy of innovation very, very well and they are definitely not 'me too' styling," he said.

"We think Megane will have a good market and a good following because the cars aren't afraid to be different. They won't be for some people for sure, but no car is for everybody."The Megane will be a radical looking entrant in what is set to become an even more intensely fought small car market.

The new Mitsubishi Lancer sedan will be launched this month and the Ford Focus will be here before the end of the year.

Next year there's the prospect of an all-new replacement for the Mazda 323 and Daewoo Nubira while the fifth generation VW Golf will make its international debut.

All of a sudden life isn't looking so easy for the traditional class trumps - the Toyota Corolla, Holden Astra and the Pulsar.

Renault Australia is counting on the Megane to provide the rump of its planned sales jump from about 5000 units in 2002 - which it is well on track to surpassing - to 8000 sales in 2003.

Considering that the Meganes should be joined by the Vel Satis luxury car and Trafic commercial vehicle (with the Kangoo and Master planned to follow close behind) in the first half of 2003, the significant growth forecast is understandable.

Before that, Renault Australia will have added the 2.0-litre Laguna hatch and estate in August or September this year.

And looking further out, the company is seriously considering the luxurious and sophisticated new Espace people-mover for 2004, which like the Megane will have its public launch at the Paris motor show in September.