Renault is strengthening its electrified vehicle offering in the UK with the announcement of the Renault Megane Hatch Plug-In Hybrid, the new five-door model complementing the Sports Tourer version that is already available with the advanced powertrain.
The Megane Hatch Plug-In Hybrid will be available to order from August with the first UK customers set to take delivery in September. At the same time, and in line with its electrification strategy for the Megane, Renault will remove petrol and diesel versions of the Hatch and Sports Tourer.
Customers will be able to choose from two well-equipped trim levels – the Iconic E-Tech Plug-In Hybrid 160 Auto and the sporty R.S. Line E-Tech Plug-In Hybrid 160 Auto. Both versions feature an efficient 1.6-litre petrol engine complemented by a 65hp (49kW) electric motor, resulting in combined fuel economy of 235.4mpg (WLTP) and CO2 emissions of only 28g/km (WLTP). Efficiency isn’t to the detriment of performance either, the 160hp drivetrain enabling a 0-62mph time of 9.4 seconds and a top speed of 114mph. The new hybrid is more powerful than the outgoing diesel and petrol variants, while also offering favourable Total Cost of Ownership arguments.
Business customers also benefit from the Megane Hatch Plug-In Hybrid qualifying for a Benefit-In-Kind rate of only 11 per cent and £0 VED costs for the first year.
Both trim levels feature an extensive standard specification, which includes an electronic parking brake, front and rear electric windows, cruise control with speed limiter, 10-inch TFT driver’s display, Eco Mode, EV mode button, MULTI-SENSE with three driving modes and eight ambient lighting colours, and a hands-free key card.
Standard safety equipment includes front and rear parking sensors, Hill Start Assist and the Visio System that incorporates lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, and automatic high/low beam.
The Iconic trim level stands out with such features as 16-inch ‘Impulse’ diamond-cut alloy wheels, leather steering wheel, and frameless rear-view mirror. Its EASYLINK navigation system ensures customers are well connected with two USB ports, Bluetooth, and smartphone integration including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay that are accessible through its 7-inch touchscreen.
The R.S. Line version gains exclusive body-coloured R.S. Line bumpers, 17-inch ‘Monthlery’ diamond-cut alloy wheels, and an R.S. leather steering wheel. Safety is further enhanced with the fitment of the Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS), rear parking camera and hands-free parking, while the EASYLINK navigation system has a larger 9.3-inch touchscreen.
Customers will be able to further personalise their Megane Hatch Plug-In Hybrid with an array of options, such as the Safety Pack, which adds adaptive cruise control, Lane Keeping Assistance, and E-Call, and the Motorway Pack that includes the Traffic Jam Companion comprising adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go and Lane Centering, plus Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
The Megane Hatch Plug-In Hybrid uses the same technology that debuted on the Clio E-Tech hybrid, which was engineered with input from the Alpine F1 team. It combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 1.2kW lithium-ion battery and two electric motors, together with the automatic, multi-mode dog gearbox that features in all other E-Tech models. In operation, it starts the vehicle in 100 per cent electric mode, significantly reducing the gap in acceleration during gear changes. This means a smoother, more refined drive plus better performance.
The hybrid powertrain allows significant reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. It is designed to use the optimal energy output to recharge the battery whenever the energy created is more than the required power. Then, kinetic energy recovered during deceleration or braking can be transformed into electrical energy to recharge the battery. The electrical energy is then in reserve to assist with acceleration, or for all-electric operation at lower speeds in urban areas, later in a journey.
When combined with the other hybrid and 100 per cent electric vehicles in the Renault passenger car range, the addition of the Megane Hatch Plug-In Hybrid means Renault now offers an electrified option to suit everyone.
Further details and pricing will be announced nearer to the on-sale date.
