What's all this about?

It's more information on that rather handsome Renault Megane Sport Tourer we saw before the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS). As the French firm is giving the C-segment estate its debut at GIMS, we now know more about it.

Such as?

There will be two variants, the regular Sport Tourer and the GT model; the latter sounds more like a sporty trim line to us, although Renault wants to call it a separate machine. To that end, beyond the regular car's chrome waistline trim and matt-finish integrated aluminium roof bars, the GT gets restyled bumpers, honeycomb mesh grilles, bigger air inlets and the choice of some 18-inch alloy wheels. At the back are a chromed exhaust pipe and a sculpted diffuser.

And how about the cabin?

The GT again stands above the rest of the range, although all models are spacious, practical and feature a new and improved driver-centric dashboard, studded with a TFT data screen and the 8.7-inch R-Link 2 multimedia touchscreen. There's a head-up display, as well. In the GT, blue is the theme, as it can be found in the stitching, on trim strips and in the instrument binnacle. Tasty bucket seats and chequered logos are complemented by a sports steering wheel, aluminium pedals and paddle shifts.

Paddle shifts - is it an auto?

Strictly no, as the two engines to be found in the Megane Sport Tourer GT are both paired to robotised Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) manuals, although most people now refer to these gearboxes as autos as they have no clutch pedals. Choose from either a 165hp Energy dCi diesel or a 205hp Energy TCe petrol.

What does the non-GT Sport Tourer have under the bonnet?

Petrol engines amount to 100- and 130hp Energy TCes, with either six-speed manual or seven-speed EDC automatic transmissions. There are more diesels, of 90-, 110- and 130hp outputs, all of which use six-speed gearboxes that are mostly manuals, but the 110 can have the EDC too. All of these units are used in the Megane hatch too.

No hybrid, then?

Not yet, but there's a Hybrid Assist dCi 110 due in early 2017, using very mild electrification to eke out fuel reserves and thus lower CO₂. Expect the first wave of Megane Sport Tourers to go on sale in the UK in the winter of 2016.

Matt Robinson - 1 Mar 2016