Snapshot
- New Mégane to be PHEV and EV only
- Two trim options to pair petrol engine with electric motor
- No confirmation on Australian arrival
UPDATE, JULY 29: Renault UK has confirmed the pricing and features of its Mégane plug-in hybrid range, the first time the French hatchback has been powered by anything other than a dedicated combustion engine in its history.
On-the-road prices start at £29,495 (AU$55,595) for the Iconic trim package while the premium R.S. Line sets buyers back an extra £2000 (AU$3770), coming in at £31,495 (AU$59,365).
In WLTP testing, the 1.6-litre petrol engine and 49kW electric motor recorded fuel consumption of just 1L/100km with only 28 grams of CO2 emissions per kilometre.
The story to here
JULY 8: Electric power will be a key part of the 2022 Renault Mégane's powertrain for the United Kingdom, with the French manufacturer confirming its UK-bound models are to be powered by hybridised or purely electric engines only.
The company has yet to confirm whether this consolidated line-up is a UK-only plan or a broader multi-market strategy, but given the tightening emissions targets across all of Europe, it's likely most regions there will take the same approach.
Ditching diesel completely and adding hybrid assistance to a petrol engine, the entire Mégane range will have some form of electrification, either in tandem with an internal combustion engine or as a dedicated EV, the firm having already announced the new Mégane E-Tech Electric previously.
Available as a hatch or sports tourer, two variants are on offer, with both the Iconic E-Tech Plug-In Hybrid 160 Auto and R.S. Line E-Tech Plug-In Hybrid 160 Auto featuring a 1.6-litre petrol engine, paired to a 49kW electric motor and a 1.2kW lithium-ion battery.
Standard equipment on the entry-level Iconic includes; a 10-inch instrument display, Easylink navigation, a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), 16-inch 'Impulse' alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, hill start assist, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and automatic low/high beam headlights.
Stepping up to the R.S. Line, customers get; body-coloured R.S. Line bumpers, 17-inch ‘Monthlery’ diamond-cut alloy wheels, an R.S. leather steering wheel, advanced emergency braking system (AEBS), rear parking camera and hands-free parking, and a larger 9.3-inch infotainment touchscreen.
Two optional packages are also available, with the Safety Pack adding; adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, and E-Call (emergency assistance) while the Motorway Pack includes; adaptive cruise control with stop and go plus lane centring as well as rear cross traffic alert.
The new Mégane's release comes off the back of Renault announcing last week it has committed to developing new, cheaper-to-produce EV platforms in the pursuit of 65 per cent of its range being electrified by 2025, increasing to 90 per cent solely EVs by 2030.
A spokesperson for Renault's Australian importer Ateco couldn't confirm whether the Mégane PHEV would arrive locally, telling Wheels: "Ateco is working with our partners overseas on a range of new Renault vehicles for Australia, and will communicate more in due course."
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