Renault Megane News

Renault has shown off the future of its small car segment in Munich this week, and - like almost all other brands - is staking its prospects on the booming popularity of SUVs, morphing its Megane into the E-Tech crossover.Available with two flavours, an e

It's shaping up as a good year for hot hatch fans, with the updated Hyundai i30 N, all-new Hyundai i20 N, Toyota GR Yaris Rallye and Volkswagen Golf GTI all on the way.

Renault Australia has cut the Megane RS hot hatch’s range in half as part of its midlife facelift, with the entry-level Sport and mid-range Cup variants no more, while the flagship Trophy grade carries on

Renault has another all-electric model in the works, with the just-revealed Megane eVision concept previewing its next-generation small hatchback that’s set to debut next year

Renault Australia has abandoned its plans to sell the new-generation Clio and facelifted Zoe light hatchbacks as part of its SUV focus, which will continue with the new-generation Captur light SUV in the first quarter of next year

Renault has revealed a mid-life facelift for its Megane RS, which is headlined by an increase in entry-level power that will push the new line-up to the front of the hot-hatch pack when it arrives in Australia in about a year’s time

Pricing for Renault's hottest hot hatch has been confirmed, with the fire-breathing Megane R.S.

The next-generation Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution could share a platform and hybrid drivetrain with the next Renault Megane RS, if a report from Autocar UK is to be believed. Reportedly due in around 2022 and using the same CMF-C/D F4 platform as the next Megane, Mitsubishi will apparently aim to get back to its performance car roots with the next generation of Lancer Evolution. The next Evo will reportedly use a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine boosted by a 48V mild-hybrid drivetrain, producing about 255kW of power and 450Nm of torque and be capable of a sub-5.0 second sprint from 0-100km/h. According to the report, the Evolution’s revival is part of Mitsubishi chairman Osamu Masuko’s plan to restore the Japanese maker to its previous position of strength within the performance car ranks. Previous plans to make a next-generation Evo were put on hold thanks to heavy financial losses at the company and its purchase by Nissan in 2016, but thanks to the Renault-Nissan alliance, such a product - and a regular Lancer small car - are more feasible. While the Lancer has stopped production for the western world, in markets like Taiwan it received a facelift and a name change to Grand Lancer. The Grand Lancer will possibly stick around until the next generation of the car is revealed.

Renault Australia has discontinued the entry-level Life and Zen variants from its Megane small car range - a move that increases the price of entry to the Megane line-up by $10,500.But like Holden’s recent decision to cull the Astra range to just a hatchback body-style, Renault has also killed off the Megane sedan and wagon locally.This leaves just the Megane GT-Line, GT and RS (Renault Sport) variants left, though the Megane RS Trophy and RS Trophy-R are due to be added later in 2019. Megane sales have slowed to a trickle in 2019 with just 15 sold to the end of May, according to VFACTS. This pales in comparison with the Mazda3 (12,682 units), Toyota Corolla (11,882) and Hyundai i30 (11,033). Sales of the Megane Sport range are more positive, with 155 sold in the same time period, although Renault Australia’s sales are down 20.7 per cent year on year to 3054 units. While slow sales are likely the reason to the Megane range’s culling, Renault Australia is also preparing to introduce the Kadjar small SUV that will sit between the Captur and Koleos. Due in late 2019, the Kadjar is based on the same platform as the Nissan Qashqai and is likely to be priced from around $27,000.

The latest iteration of Renault’s wild Trophy-R Megane – the most powerful and race-ready road-going variant offered by the brand – has again conquered rivals at Germany’s hallowed Nurburgring circuit.