Renault News

Renault was expected to partner with Volkswagen to reboot its Twingo nameplate in the electric era, twinned with the German brand’s ID.1, the electric Up! replacement.

The 2024 Renault Megane E-Tech becomes the latest in a line of electric cars to have its price cut approaching the end of financial year to increase sales. The Megane E-Tech Techno EV60 is priced from $54,990 before on-road costs until June 30, a $10,000 discount from the launch price.It brings Renault's EV, which launched only a few months ago, below popular electric vehicles including the Tesla Model 3 RWD ($58,900) and Hyundai Kona Electric ($58,000).The small SUV that competes with the BYD Atto 3 and Peugeot e-2008 features a 60kWh lithium-ion battery and front-mounted 160kW/300Nm electric motor for a WLTP driving range of 454km and 0-100km/h sprint in 7.4 seconds. The battery accepts DC electricity at up to 130kW allowing the Megane E-tech to recuperate 10-80 per cent charge in around 30 minutes on a suitably powerful pylon.“We’ve been delighted with the response to the Megane E-Tech since its launch in early February,” said Renault Australia General Manager Glen Sealey.“This limited end-of-financial-year offer, at the key selling period of the year, will ensure we remain competitive”, said Sealey justifying the offer. As for level of equipment, the Techno EV60 is the sole variant and features 20-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery made from recycled fibres, a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and 9.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. So far Renault has shifted 97 Megane E-Tech examples in Australia. Comparatively, BYD has sold 2638 Atto 3s and Volvo already 115 EX30s in its first month on sale. The Megane E-Tech follows limited offers for the BYD Atto 3, Peugeot e-2008, Nissan Leaf and Polestar 2. There was also a wholesale Tesla price cut earlier this year fuelling the competitive electric car environment in Australia.

Renault has unveiled the Symbioz, a small hybrid SUV that’s targeting the Nissan Qashqai and Toyota Corolla Cross in Europe – and it offers up to seven seats.

The Japanese brand is about to go on an electric car offensive and the little EV is due to be officially unveiled late this year.

Renault has revealed a major styling update for the smallest SUV it offers in Australia, the Captur, which is confirmed for an Australian arrival within a year.

Renault Australia’s General manager, Glen Sealey is bullish about the prospects for the much-anticipated local introduction of a Renault-badged version of the latest, third-generation Dacia Duster small SUV, telling CarsGuide, “We’re absolutely full-on on that.”

Just over 50 years since the original Renault 5 turned the global small car market on its head, the pure-electric Renault 5 E-Tech appears set to cause similar disruption.

This week’s launch of Renault’s new-generation Megane E-Tech EV is the start of a determined product push for the famous French brand, with Renault Australia’s General manager, Glen Sealey confirming an impressive roster of new or updated passenger and light commercial models arriving here over the next 18 months.

Yes, this is yet another story about the 2023 new-car sales data - but this one is different, I promise.

Badge-engineered cars. It’s been happening almost as long as the industry itself. Some pull off the disguise so convincingly you’d never know their true identities, like John Travolta’s face-switcheroo with Nicolas Cage in 1997’s immensely silly/fun Face/Off. Others, meanwhile, are about as convincing as donning a Groucho Marx nose and glasses.