Geneva Motor Show 2008

Sharp Renault Geneva star revealed

Covers come off one of the biggest Geneva Motor Show stars - new Renault coupe.

Auto Express Car Reviews

04th March 2008

The 2008 Geneva expo is just a few hours old but Renault has already stolen the show with this – the Mégane Coupe Concept.

Previewing the all-new family car range, which arrives in the UK later this year, it’s a stunning sports car that truly follows in the footsteps of the recently revealed Laguna Coupe.

Constructed almost entirely from carbon fibre, it features dragon-fly doors – so called because they open in two sections and are mounted on a central crossbeam – light-reflective paint and a sleek body that looks more Alfa Romeo than Renault.

Under the bonnet lies a 205bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while inside the cabin gets seats that are built into the bodywork along with personal MP4 players fixed to the front headrests.

Set to spawn an entire range of family cars, the next-generation Mégane will be available first in five-door form, while this concept will inspire a three-door model. It will sit apart from its sister car, just as Vauxhall has done with the Astra Sport Hatch and Kia with the Cee’d and Pro_cee’d. “We’re really going back to the Mégane’s roots,” said a spokesman for the French firm. “The first-generation model was a proper three-door coupe and this will be the same.”

The production version will be seen at the Paris Motor Show in September, with UK sales starting before the end of the year.