FORECOURT
RENAULT MEGANE E-TECH
THE KNOWLEDGE Renault Megane E-Tech Electric
Price (as tested): £TBC Engine: Single electric motor Power: 215bhp Torque: 300Nm Max speed: 93mph O-60mph: 7.2 seconds Range: 292 miles Emissions: N/A
Under the bonnet The Megane E-Tech comes with a choice of two powertrains, producing 129 or 215bhp.
The Megane E-Tech arrives with a load of new technology as well as a cutting-edge platform. Jack Evans put one through its paces in Spain. WHAT IS IT? The Megane E-Tech Electric is the first in a whole new generation of Renault EVs. It’s also the first vehicle to be made entirely at Renault’s new ‘industrial hub’ in the north of France. WHAT’S NEW? Crucial to the new Megane E-Tech Electric is the CMF-EV platform. Dedicated to electric cars rather than being adapted from an existing layout, it should make the E-Tech Electric as good to drive as possible, since the batteries are fitted under the floor, improving the centre of gravity and giving better handling and improved cornering responses. WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET? The Megane E-Tech Electric comes with two powertrains. Both use the same electric motor but offer 129 or 215bhp, while the option of a 40kWh or 60kWh battery brings respective ranges of 186 or 292 miles. In terms of performance, we’re looking at 0-60mph in 10.3 seconds for the less powerful version or 7.2 seconds in the tip-top version. Renault also covers the battery with an eight-year warranty and it’ll replace it should the battery drop below 70 per cent of its nominal capacity. Drivers can check this through a dedicated app. It can accept a charge of up to 130kW, which means that 186 miles of range could be added in 30 minutes to the smaller battery option when hooked up to a rapid charger. A full charge via a 7.4kW home wallbox will take just over six hours for the smaller battery version or just over nine for the larger. WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? We were in the most powerful version of the Megane E-Tech, which brings a good slug of power and brisk acceleration as and when you need it. There’s a decent amount of pace away from a standing start, but at moderate speeds the Megane feels pretty normal – and that’s no bad thing. Renault has quickened the steering on the E-Tech too and although this is a help around town, it can mean it feels a little light at greater speeds. The roads on our Spanish test route were wonderfully smooth – so we’ll have to reserve final judgement on the Megane’s ride until we have it in the UK – but through fast, flowing bends it felt composed and settled. It’s also fantastically quiet and refined, with the vast majority of exterior road and wind noise isolated from entering the cabin.
38 | CarDealerMag.co.uk
