The Renault Megane eVision concept previews a new electric hatchback that will go on sale in Europe from 2021 and in the UK from 2022.
It’ll be the first vehicle from the French brand to use the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s new CMF-EV platform that also underpins the Nissan Ariya, and will give Renault a rival for the Volkswagen ID.3.
The concept has smooth styling accentuated by sharp details, and plenty of aerodynamic features, including flush-fitting front door handles, and a slim camera pod instead of regular wing mirrors.
In place of a traditional grille, the Megane eVision has a lighting strip stretching out from the LED matrix headlights. The eVision rides on 20-inch propeller blade-style alloy wheels with 245/40 tyres.
While the car’s overall design looks production-ready, some of the concept car flourishes are likely to disappear before it hits showrooms.
The Megane eVision has an electric motor, rated at 160kW of power and 300Nm of torque, driving the front wheels via a reduction gear. It’ll do the 0-100km/h sprint in under eight seconds.
A 60kWh battery pack is located under the floor and the Megane eVision supports 130kW DC fast charging and vehicle-to-grid technology, which allows the car to supply excess electricity back to the grid during peak periods.
Renault hasn’t provided a range estimate, but the larger and heavier 65kWh Nissan Ariya has a claimed range of 450km under Japan’s generous testing cycle.
Measuring 4210mm long, 1800mm wide, 1505mm tall, and riding on a 2700mm wheelbase, the Megane eVision is taller, but more compact than the regular petrol- and diesel-powered 4.36m Megane.
Interior room will presumably be similar, or better, given the packaging advantages of a dedicated electric car platform.
The Megane eVision also has a smaller footprint than the Nissan Ariya crossover, which will be the first Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance vehicle to use the CMF-EV architecture.
The Ariya is due to go on sale in Japan from mid-2021, but won’t arrive Down Under until 2022 at the earliest.
