Renault Australia has opened the order book for the all-new Megane E-Tech BEV Crossover which is priced from $64,990 plus on-road costs.
According to the brand the Megane E-Tech is the first of a new generation of battery electric vehicles built on its CMF-EV platform with ‘sensual tech’ design language styling.
It offers an electric driving range of up to 454 kilometres (WLTP).
Renault says the Megane E-Tech leads the way in sustainability thanks to an electric motor containing no rare earths, and the use of recycled aluminium panels and recycled material throughout.
More than 90% of Megane E-Tech is recyclable according to the manufacturer and it says more than 28kg of recycled plastics and fabrics are used in the dashboard, centre console, headrests and floor mats.
Renault Australia general manager Glen Sealey says the Megane E-Tech is a game changer.
“We can’t wait to bring Megane E-Tech to Australia and herald a new dawn in automotive leadership.”
Six colours are available – Rafale Grey, Shadow Grey, Solid White, Diamond Black, Flame Red, and Night Blue – with the choice of a body-coloured or contrasting roof design in either Diamond Black or Shadow Grey, depending on the body colour chosen.
The Megane E-Tech is powered by a new 160kW electric motor with 300Nm of torque and four levels of regenerative braking.
The new motor is particularly compact, weighing only 145kg, and doesn’t require the use of rare earth metals. It is capable of accelerating from 0-100 km in 7.4 seconds, but is also capable of remarkable efficiency, consuming 16.1 kWh per 100km at the socket, for a claimed consumption of 15.6kWh per 100km.
The 60kWh battery is just as innovative. At only 110mm it is one of the thinnest on the market, meaning the centre of gravity is lower and the car is more agile, giving a dynamic driving experience. Weight is evenly distributed thanks to the battery being housed under the whole floor plate.
Recharging can be achieved from a simple domestic socket, a 7kW wall box, public charging stations offering AC power, and DC fast-chargers up to 130kW. The latter permits up to around 300 kilometres of driving range (WLTP) to be recovered in 30 minutes.
The Megane E-Tech is fitted with a host of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) as standard, from automatic emergency braking with junction assist that can detect pedestrians and cyclists, to emergency lane keeping assist with oncoming traffic and road-edge detection.
Traffic sign recognition, hill start assist, driver drowsiness alert, distance warning alert and adaptive cruise control all help to make driving easier and safer in the conditions we find ourselves every day.
The vehicle also features a new adaptive cruise control function that works in conjunction with the traffic sign recognition system to prompt the driver to adjust the car’s speed to match the prevailing limit.
The smart rear-view mirror uses a camera located at the top of the rear window to display a real-time view of the road behind, giving an entirely unobstructed view regardless of passengers or cargo. All of these safety systems have helped secure a 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.
Additionally, Renault is building a unique ‘human first’ safety programme to develop systems and processes before, and in the case of, a crash to help maximise the ‘golden hour’, the first 60 minutes after impact.
Working specifically with various fire and rescue departments from around the world has led to a number of specific innovations on All-New Megane E-Tech including:
Fireman Access: a special access point that lets water be introduced to the centre of the car’s battery, allowing it to be extinguished in less than 10 minutes (compared to the typical three hours).
QRescue: A new QR code standard on Renault vehicles from 2023 which provides immediate access to the vehicle’s technical information (engine, battery location, etc). The location of this QR code, strategically determined and validated by fire crews, can save up to 15 minutes of critical time during an intervention.
And finally the SD switch: an easy access switch, without the need for specific tools, to disconnect the battery from the high voltage electrical network.
