Renault Megane Sport Tourer

Renault Megane Sport Tourer - launches with a wide choice of powerplants, including three diesel engines, all of which produce 120g/km or less

On sale in the UK in August

Alongside six other world debuts from French marque Renault, this year’s Geneva motor show also witnessed the unveiling of the latest member of the New Megane family, with the arrival of the Sport Tourer version.

New Megane Sport Tourer boasts vast carrying capacity and could hardly be more driver-friendly, while its dynamic, elegant lines give it undeniable sporting appeal. The newcomer boasts a raft of high-tech equipment, too, including Carminat TomTom, a new, fully-integrated satnav system for a pioneering price of less than £500.

Compared with New Megane Hatch, the extended wheelbase and rear overhang have freed up additional cabin space for occupants, as well as extra carrying capacity. The new range comes with a wide choice of engines which combine performance and respect for the environment, including the new TCe 130 petrol unit.

The new Megane Sport Tourer features identical frontal styling to that of the hatchback version, including the characteristic lines that swoop down from the windscreen pillars to converge on the logo at the centre of the bonnet. Seen from the side, however, New Megane Sport Tourer is very different thanks to its extended wheelbase (+62mm). The newcomer's total length (4,558mm) is also 263mm longer than that of the Megane hatch, and its width stands at 1,808mm.

Special attention has been paid to quality thanks to a careful choice of forms and materials. In the cabin, the accent has been on the durability and quality of the materials – which have been selected to be pleasant to the touch – and on exemplary fit-and-finish.

Thanks to its generous dimensions and elegant, dynamic styling, New Megane Sport Tourer exudes sporting appeal without detracting in any way from its user-friendliness or carrying capacity.

Practical and technologically advanced
New Megane Sport Tourer features a roomy, modular interior, plus generous carrying capacity which can be adapted to suit a broad variety of uses.

The Sport Tourer’s boot volume of 524 litres (up to parcel shelf) ranks it among the best in its segment. Total carrying capacity can be extended up to 1,595 litres with the rear seats fully folded, while access to the boot is facilitated by its low sill height: 561mm, the lowest in its class.

Rear passengers also benefit from the extended wheelbase since they benefit from comfortable kneeroom of 218mm. The driver, meanwhile, will appreciate the comfortable, practical driving environment. Front elbow room figures among the segment's best at 1,476mm, and the height-adjustable driver's seat travels through a segment-topping 70mm.

The new Sport Tourer range features a choice of two GPS navigation systems and a long list of high-tech equipment. The first, Carminat TomTom, is the first fully-integrated navigation system for a price of less than £500. Particularly easy to use, and ready to run as soon as the car starts, it delivers all the functions expected of a top navigation system, including: precise, detailed maps, a large 5.8-inch screen, birdview display and reliable guidance complete with traffic information, alternative routes, speed restrictions, speed camera location alerts, a plethora of points of interest and a wide range of customisable parameters.

Like its Hatch and Coupe stablemates, the Megane Sport Tourer range features a raft of equipment, most of which is more commonly associated with the next segment up:

- Renault Hands Free Card with automatic central locking when the driver walks away from the car,
- automatic handbrake,
- dual-zone automatic climate control with three temperature adjustment modes (Soft-Auto-Fast),
- directional bi-Xenon headlamps,
- innovative combined digital/analogue instrument display,
- new colour-coded interface for the cruise control with speed limiter,
- customisation of the activation and adjustment of certain functions (daytime running lights, volume of audible parking proximity sensor warning),
- 3D Sound by Arkamys audio system,
- connectivity: standard RCA socket and optional TunePoint system (USB and jack connections).

Reassuring roadholding
All the handling-related enhancements seen on the new Megane hatch have been carried over to the Sport Tourer.
Technically, it shares the same genes as the rest of the new Megane family, including MacPherson-type front suspension combined with a horned subframe, plus a closed-section torsion beam at the rear. The electric power steering has been entirely revised for enhanced response and driving comfort thanks to more reliable feedback of information from the road. Together, these improvements ensure a precise, reassuring ride and best-level cornering stability.

The Sport Tourer is available with a wide choice of powerplants, including three diesel engines that boast CO2 emissions of less than or equal to 120g/km.

The petrol engine line-up comprises five powertrains, including the new TCe 130 engine which is available from launch. Developed within the framework of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the TCe 130 showcases the expertise that the brand has acquired in downsizing. This 1.4-litre unit boasts the torque of a 2-litre engine and the power of a 1.8, yet its CO2 emissions are less than those of a 1.6. The TCe 130 also figures at the top-end of its class in terms of running and maintenance costs. Its reliable, durable timing chain favours acoustic comfort, while oil change intervals are every 18,000 miles (or every two years).

The Sport Tourer can also be ordered with 100hp and 110hp 1.6 litre engines that drive through manual five- or six-speed gearboxes respectively.

The 2.0 140hp engine is available with gearshift-free CVT (continuously variable transmission) for even greater driving comfort.

The petrol engine line-up is rounded off by the TCe 180, an evolution of the 2.0 litre which combines outstanding response with outstanding flexibility at low revs.

The 1.5 litre dCi engine comes in a choice of three power outputs, with or without a particulate filter (dCi 86, dCi 106 and dCi 110 FAP). In addition to their sprightly performance, all these engines stand out through their low CO2 emissions (118g/km for the dCi 86 and 120g/km for the dCi 106).

The dCi 130 engine is the only engine of its class to claim CO2 emissions of less than 140g/km, which consequently qualifies it for tax incentives in certain countries.

The dCi 106, dCi 110 FAP and dCi 130 engines all figure among the best in their class in terms of running and maintenance costs, with oil changes recommended every 18,000 miles (or two years) and timing belt changes every 100,000 miles. The particulate filters now benefit from a lifetime warranty.

The diesel engine range is topped by the 2.0 dCi which is available in a choice of power outputs, namely 160hp (mated to a manual six-speed gearbox) or a 150hp version with six-speed automatic transmission that will become available in the course of the second half of 2009).

Quality and safety expertise
Like all the members of the new Megane family, the Sport Tourer has been designed to deliver impeccable passive and active safety.

It is equipped with the full range of driver aids: ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assist and ESP with understeer control and also comes with the same passive safety features and systems that helped the hatch score the maximum possible score of 37 points (from 37) in the Euro NCAP crash tests, namely a programmed deformation structure combined with the third-generation Renault System for Restraint and Protection (SRP3) which affords best-level protection in accidents for all occupants.

The new Sport Tourer also comes with the innovative twin side-impact sensors first seen on the Laguna. This system halves the time required to trigger the dual-chamber thorax/groin airbags for even greater occupant protection.

The new Megane Sport Tourer goes on sale in the UK in August.