Photo: SB-Medien
The VW Golf and Ford Focus are currently dominating compact car sales across Europe and other markets. However, Nissan is already fighting back with its new Pulsar hatch and Renault is getting ready to do the same with a new generation of Megane.
The Megane just received a pretty serious mid-life facelift in January and is unlikely to be replaced for another couple of years. But the French company is already testing many body styles for the Mk4 generation.
Our spies have recently spotted a test mule that's based on the current Megane Grandtour, which also goes by the name Megane estate and Megane Sports Tourer, depending on the market.
Underneath that botched body shell, we likely have a brand new platform, the same one already used by Nissan on thee crossover SUVs and the hatchback we just mentioned.
The Megane nameplate was launched in 1995, three years before the Ford Focus. The estate version has existed since the first generation. A couple of yeas ago, they even introduced a hot version called the GT 220, which has a de-tuned version of the engine you get with the RS hot hatch.
Under the bonnet of our prototype, you'll find no such 2-liter monster. Judging by the exhaust system, this is estate is likely equipped with the 1.2 TCe small turbo engine, which both Nissan and Renault offer a variety of models. The other mainstay of the next Megane's engine range will the 1.6-liter DOHC 16-valve engine block. They've already got a 130 hp version that's winning high praise, but a twin-turbo 160 hp version has also been presented on the new Espace and should trickle down to smaller cars.
Our spies have recently spotted a test mule that's based on the current Megane Grandtour, which also goes by the name Megane estate and Megane Sports Tourer, depending on the market.
Underneath that botched body shell, we likely have a brand new platform, the same one already used by Nissan on thee crossover SUVs and the hatchback we just mentioned.
The Megane nameplate was launched in 1995, three years before the Ford Focus. The estate version has existed since the first generation. A couple of yeas ago, they even introduced a hot version called the GT 220, which has a de-tuned version of the engine you get with the RS hot hatch.
Under the bonnet of our prototype, you'll find no such 2-liter monster. Judging by the exhaust system, this is estate is likely equipped with the 1.2 TCe small turbo engine, which both Nissan and Renault offer a variety of models. The other mainstay of the next Megane's engine range will the 1.6-liter DOHC 16-valve engine block. They've already got a 130 hp version that's winning high praise, but a twin-turbo 160 hp version has also been presented on the new Espace and should trickle down to smaller cars.
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