New Renault Megane hatch prices announced

Ahead of its much anticipated world debut at the Paris Motor Show next week, Renault has released UK pricing for its stylish New Mégane Hatch range.  Prices start from £13,995, priced aggressively to take on perennial rivals such as the Ford Focus and VW Golf.

At launch, three trim levels will be available: Expression, Dynamique and Privilège, priced from £13,995 to £18,795. The new range features an impressive equipment list as standard, with a significant amount of comfort and technology features which are otherwise considered costly optional extras amongst much of the competition.

Standard kit includes air conditioning, six airbags, electric heated body coloured door mirrors and front and rear electric windows.

Also taken to the next level on New Mégane is safety, with ESP with ASR (Anti-Skid Regulation) and CSV understeer control standard on every model, along with six airbags, of which the driver and front passenger are now two-stage auto-adaptive, allowing them to work in harmony with the size and weight of both occupants. New larger lateral airbags are also incorporated into the new five-door’s design to protect the thorax region, along with Renault’s latest generation headrests. For the latter, the fixation rods slide within the headrest and no longer within the upper part of the seatback and ensure enhanced protection of the cervical vertebrae in case of impact from the rear. In addition, since the rods no longer form a rigid element in the seatback, the occupant's back can sink into the seatback until their head comes into contact with the headrest, resulting in less movement of the head and thorax.

In terms of engines, as the sport-oriented model in the range, Dynamique trim gains the potent new 2.0 TCe 180 engine and the highest power diesel at launch, 1.9 dCi 130.

In keeping with the current trend of more fuel efficient petrol-engines based on the use of small turbos, the latest Renault TCe (Turbo Control Efficiency) powerplant builds on the success of the current 1.2 TCe 100, offering remarkable performance and refinement, with low emissions and high fuel economy. The 2.0 TCe 180 delivers torque of 300Nm at 2,250rpm and CO₂ emissions of 178 grams per kilometre. Later in the model’s life, New Mégane will receive the 1.4 TCe 130 engine to complete the new petrol engine family to emulate the success of the company’s award-winning dCi diesel range.

Elsewhere in the range, the 1.6 VVT 100 5-speed is reserved for Expression only, while all three of the diesel engines (86, 106 and 130hp) are eco-friendly, forming part of Renault’s eco² range. Six-speed manual gearboxes are standard across the range with the exception of the Expression 1.6 VVT 100 and 1.5 dCi 86 which are five-speed. Automatic versions follow in Spring 2009.

Full pricing for the New Mégane Hatch is outlined below:

Full technical details for New Mégane Hatch will be released shortly. It makes its world debut at the Paris Motor Show next Thursday, alongside the striking new three-door New Mégane Coupé, which appears in late January 2009.