The sky's no limit for Renault's new Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet

The stylish new Renault Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet, with its striking glass roof, will go on sale this spring, completing the new Mégane family.

The roof, which has a transparent glazed area of 0.47 sq metres (the largest in the segment), means that come the brighter weather, both driver and passengers can enjoy the light and the feel of more interior space.

Renault says it also guarantees outstanding acoustic and thermal comfort, as well as greater protection from vandalism.

It takes 21 seconds to lower the top, and because of the windscreen header-rail being placed in a more forward position than its predecessor, entry and exiting the vehicle is easier. There's also the roof's high-gloss finish and black glass contrasts with the satin-effect chrome windscreen frame.

According to Renault, the interior layout carries the same elegance, thanks not only to the quality of the materials employed and to the high standard of finish, but also to the three choices of trim, which range from dark charcoal and light beige to the charcoal and red two-tone finish with leather seats.

Although the dashboard is identical to that of New Mégane Hatchback, the seats offer additional lateral support, while the 'butterfly wing' door trim panel is specific to New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet.

To make sure that all occupants are able to benefit from the pleasure of riding al fresco without the drawbacks, the new Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet is equipped with a fixed glass wind deflector positioned behind the back seat headrests. This enables four people to enjoy draft-free driving at speeds of up to 90kph and, when used in conjunction with the removable mesh deflector screen located behind the front seats, allows two occupants to travel free from buffeting whatever the speed.

Driver benefits and comforts include the controls, which are clustered either around the steering wheel or on the centre console, and position memory for front seats, after being tipped forward.

Special attention has gone into ensuring that it is a practical package, too, and that includes the boot which has automatic closing for simple, secure locking; a large capacity (417 litres with the roof up, and 211 litres with the roof down); and is easy to access, with a segment-best sill height (590mm from the ground) and aperture (258mm) with the roof down, enabling three cabin cases to be carried side by side.

Like all the models that make up the new Mégane collection, the Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet is available with a long list of high-tech features, most of which are more readily associated with the next segment up:

• Hands-free starting, and hands-free locking as the card-holder walks away from the car
• Automatic electric parking brake
• Automatic dual-zone three-mode (soft-auto-fast) climate control
• Directional bi-Xenon headlamps
• Combined digital/analogue instrument display
• New, colour-coded cruise control/speed limiter interface
• 3D sound by Arkamys® audio with Plug&Music connectivity (USB, mini-jack plug)
• Carminat TomTom® navigation, the market's most competitively priced built-in sat-nav system
• Customised settings and activation/deactivation of certain functions (daytime running lights, volume of audible parking proximity warning).

The model is available with a choice of seven efficient and eco-friendly petrol and diesel powertrain configurations (depending on the market). The petrol engine range comprises the 1.6 16V 110hp engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, the TCe 130 (Turbo Control efficiency) driving through a six-speed manual gearbox, and the 2.0 16V 140hp engine available with the new continuously variable transmission (CVT) for even greater driving comfort thanks to smooth, step-less gearshifts.

The diesel engine range comprises the following Euro5 powerplants: The dCi 110 DPF, mated either to the brand new six-speed EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) dual-clutch automatic transmission (see below) or to a manual six-speed gearbox; The dCi 130 DPF which drives through a six-speed manual gearbox; The dCi 160 DPF also with a six-speed manual gearbox.

The Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet is the first Renault to use the new EDC gearbox which is based on Dual Clutch Transmission technology,which has better CO2 emissions and fuel consumption comparable to those of a vehicle equipped with a manual gearbox; fast, smooth, automatic gearshifts and instant response to the driver's demands.

When it comes to safety, an extensive range of equipment is available to help drivers anticipate risky situations. This includes a tyre pressure monitoring system, automatic headlamp activation and cruise control with speed limiter. The car also has a range of driving aids, for instance an ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assist and understeer control.

Safety features for passengers include a programmed structural deformation designed to protect the cabin in the case of a rollover, thanks to reinforcement of the windscreen pillars, body sides, sills and floor; seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters; adaptive frontal airbags; anti-whiplash head restraints and child seat anchorage for rear seats.

The public will get its first chance to see New Renault Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet when it is unveiled at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show (March 4-14). It will also be displayed at Flagship L’Atelier Renault on the Champs-Elysées in Paris.

No Comments Yet