Having culled the dead wood from the line-up Renault is hoping that some extensive rhinoplasty to its best-selling Mégane range will boost sales. The changes to the 2012 model include a revised front bumper featuring new and distinctive LED lights and gloss black finish with chrome highlights.
Two new colours - Arctic White and Azzurro Blue - have been added to the Mégane's palette while the interior receives new interior trims, including a two-tone leather pack available in a choice of two finishes in the UK.
The 2012 Mégane also becomes the most fuel efficient car in its class (according to Renault), thanks to the introduction of three new 'Stop & Start' engines. Both the 1.5-litre dCi 110 and 1.6-litre dC1 130 diesel units received some tinkering to deliver 80.7mpg and 70.6mpg respectively with CO
2 emissions dropping to 90- and 104g/km.
A new addition to the line-up is the 1.2-litre TCe turbocharged petrol engine. At 113bhp the TCe engine is the most powerful 1.2-litre engine available, yet boasts fuel economy of 53.3mpg meaning a diesel like range of 620 miles from a single tank. In addition to its fuel-sipping ways the turbocharged unit emits a lowly 119g/km of CO
2 - apparently a record for a petrol model in its class.
The new car is also equipped with a range of technologies both of the safety and comfort variety. Like the Scenic and Grand Scenic the 2012 Mégane can be ordered with the Visio System that features automatic switching between main and dipped-beam headlights depending on conditions and a lane departure warning system that will emit a warning if the car involuntarily changes lanes.
For 2012 all Renault Mégane models will come equipped with Bluetooth connectivity as well as USB and auxiliary sockets for connecting mobile devices. The Carminat TomTom navigation system continues as too does the Bose audio system.
The 2012 Mégane will go on sale in the UK from April.
Paul Healy - 6 Jan 2012