The Renault Mégane family has been extended to include a new model which features its own distinct personality: New Renault Mégane Estate. New Renault Mégane Estate boasts vast carrying capacity and could hardly be more driverfriendly, 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, fullyintegrated satnav system for a pioneering price of less than €500. Compared with New Renault Mégane Hatchback, the extended wheelbase and rear overhang have freed up additional cabin space for occupants, as well as extra carrying capacity. New Renault Mégane Estate comes with a wide choice of engines which combine performance and respect for the environment, including the new TCe 130 petrol unit.
DYNAMIC STYLING
In addition to its dynamic looks, New Renault Mégane Estate has a distinctive character and lives up to the pledge made at the time of the hatchback version's release that every member of the New Renault Mégane family would have its own, clear-cut personality.
New Renault Mégane Estate features identical front-end 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 Renault Mégane Estate is very different thanks to its extended wheelbase compared with the hatchback version (+62mm). The newcomer's total length (4,558mm) is also 263mm longer than that of New Renault Mégane Hatchback, and its width stands at 1,808mm. Following this increase in wheelbase and rear overhang, special care has been taken to maintain balanced, dynamic proportions: the slope of the roofline, the steeply-raked rear screen and the elongated, rearward-sweeping side windows give New Renault Mégane Estate an elegant, racy profile, and these fluid lines are set off by the longitudinal roof bars.
The broad shoulders exude sporting appeal and an impression of robustness reinforced by the car's generous forms and low positioning of the side protective mouldings. New Mégane Estate's unique character is further expressed by features such as its rear light clusters and the form of the rear screen, the bottom edge of which picks out the Renault logo.
Special attention has been paid to perceived 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 Renault Mégane Estate exudes sporting appeal without detracting in any way from its user-friendliness or carrying capacity.
PRATICAL AND TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED
New Renault Mégane Estate's boot volume of 524dm3 (up to parcel shelf) ranks it among the best in its segment. Total carrying capacity can be extended up to 1,595dm3 with the rear benchseat fully folded, while access to the boot is facilitated by its low sill height: 561mm, the lowest of its segment.
In addition to its generous proportions, New Renault Mégane Estate's boot is practical, too, and gives owners the ability to divide it into two separate zones: one large compartment, and a smaller compartment at the rear which enables the boot's layout to be adapted to the needs of the moment.
For example, a small item can easily be slipped into the smaller compartment, which has the double advantage of preventing it from sliding about and ensuring that it is readily accessible. Two additional stowage bins are available under the floor of the rearmost compartment.
Tipping the front passenger seat and rear benchseat forward enables items of up to 2,550mm in length to be carried. To facilitate the loading of lengthy objects, the foremost part of the boot floor is raised when the rear benchseat is folded to produce a single, uninterrupted surface. This clever feature frees up space for the baggage cover in a compartment underneath the boot floor behind the rear seats.
Rear passengers also profit 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.
Like New Renault Mégane Hatchback and New Renault Mégane Coupé, the New Renault Mégane Estate catalogue features a raft of equipment, most of which is more commonly associated with the next segment up:
• hands-free card with automatic central locking when the driver walks away from the car,• automatic parking brake,• 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,• customization 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 "Plug & Music" system (USB and jack connections).
PRECISE, REASSURING ROADHOLDING
All the handling-related enhancements seen on New Renault Mégane Hatchback have been carried over to New Renault Mégane Estate Technically, New Renault Mégane Estate shares the same genes as the rest of the New Mégane family, including MacPherson-type front suspension combined with a horned subframe, plus a closedsection torsion beam at the rear, while New Renault Mégane Estate's extended wheelbase also contributes to its remarkable stability. 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.
New Renault Mégane Estate 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 six 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 the field known as 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 30,000km (or every two years).
New Renault Mégane Estate can also be ordered with 100hp and 110hp 1.6 litre engines that drive through manual five- or six-speed gearboxes respectively. In certain markets, this engine is available in a bioethanol-compatible version.
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 block which combines outstanding response with outstanding flexibility at low revs.
The extensive range of diesel engines available for New Renault Mégane Estate illustrates the ongoing work Renault continues to put in to ensure that its customers profit from the market's best trade-off between performance and fuel consumption, as well as lower running and maintenance costs and longer servicing intervals.
The 1.5 litre dCi engine comes in a choice of four power outputs, with or without a particulate filter (dCi 85, dCi 90 DPF, dCi 105 and dCi 110 DPF). In addition to their sprightly performance, all these engines stand out through their low CO2 emissions (118g/km for the dCi 85 and dCi 90 DPF, 120g/km for the dCi 105).
The dCi 130 engine, which is also available with or without a particulate filter, 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 90 DPF, dCi 105, dCi 110 DPF, dCi 130 and dCi 130 DPF engines all figure among the best in their class in terms of running and maintenance costs, with oil changes recommended every 30,000km (or two years) and timing belt changes every 160,000km. 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).
NEW RENAULT MEGANE ESTATE PROFITS FULLY FROM RENAULT'S QUALITY AND SAFETY EXPERTISE
Like all the members of the new Mégane family, New Renault Mégane Estate has been designed to deliver impeccable passive and active safety. A long list of equipment is available to help drivers anticipate risk situations:
• seatbelt reminder warning lights for all five seats,• tyre pressure monitoring system,• bi-Xenon headlamps with cornering lights,• automatic headlamp activation,• automatic windscreen wiper activation,• cruise control with speed limiter.
New Renault Mégane Estate is equipped with the full range of driver aids: ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assist and ESC with understeer control.
New Renault Mégane Estate also comes with the same passive safety features and systems that helped New Renault Mégane Hatchback score the maximum possible score of 37 points (from 37) in the EuroNCAP 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. New Mégane Estate also comes with the innovative twin side-impact sensors first seen on New Laguna. This system halves the time required to trigger the dual-chamber thorax/groin airbags for even greater occupant protection.
New Renault Mégane Estate benefits fully from the considerable progress achieved by Renault in terms of quality and durability. For example: as seen on New Laguna, the hands-free card - complete with automatic central locking as the driver walks away from the car - has been redesigned to make it even more robust. The battery is now located in a sealed compartment to enable it to stand up to the increasingly demanding validation tests (e.g. washing machine test).
The Renault Kangoo and Kangoo Express are panel van and leisure activity vehicle produced by French automaker Renault since 1997. The Kangoo is manufactured in the MCA plant in Maubeuge, France, and in Santa Isabel, Argentina. The version for the ASEAN markets was assembled by the Tan Chong Euro Cars Sdn. Bhd. (TCEC) in its Segambut plant. The model was also sold by Nissan in Latin America and Europe as the Kubistar until late 2009 in Europe, when it was replaced by the Nissan NV200. The first generation Kangoo was introduced in 1997. It was facelifted in 2003, resulting in a Phase II model. The Phase II vehicles are distinguished by their new nose styling, standardised across the Renault range, with the Renault diamond mounted on a body colour panel in the centre of the grille and teardrop headlamps. The rear windows and seats of the Kangoo could be removed, producing the panel van Kangoo Express. The Kangoo became popular with the mobility-impaired and wheelchair users due to its height and accessibility and because it could be adapted to include mounting points for wheelchairs. Both the Kangoo and Kangoo Express were available in four-wheel drive versions and a lengthened version was also available, with an increased cargo area. A pickup truck version was sold in the Swedish market. In some countries, such as Malaysia, the Kangoo was assembled by Nissan with a third row of 3 seats. The Kangoo Break'Up was a four wheel drive concept car announced in 2002 and previewed the 2003 facelift design, together with a pick-up style rear. It was powered by 1.6 L engine producing 110bhp.
The 4WD version of the Kangoo was introduced in 2002 and was marketed under the model name Trekka. It should not be confused with the Skoda-powered New Zealand built utility vehicle named Trekka, which was marketed in the Antipodes for several years around 1970 . The Kangoo Trekka's all-wheel drive system differed from the Renault Scenic RX4 in its inclusion of a Nissan sourced automatic torque coupling "ATC", a hydraulic coupling that would engage drive on all four wheels should the front wheels start to lose traction. This still allowed the Kangoo Trekka to run in front wheel drive in most conditions, saving fuel. Working in combination with the ATC, the Kangoo Trekka also featured an electronically controlled "ASR" traction control system which could brake the front wheels to arrest traction loss. The suspension was similar to the standard Kangoo only strengthened and raised to provide more ground clearance and wheel travel. These changes gave the Kangoo Trekka a 400 mm (15.7 in) fording depth and 28-degree hill-climbing capability. The Kangoo Trekka was marketed in the United Kingdom with a choice of two engines, the 1.6-litre 16-valve petrol engine and the 1.9-litre dCi common-rail turbodiesel. In 2005 these models were priced at £12,600 and £13,600 respectively. The Diesel produced a peak torque of 133 lb·ft (180 N·m) and returned over 40 mpg-imp (7 L/100 km; 33 mpg-US) on the combined (urban and extra urban) fuel consumption test. The petrol engine had a 0-60 mph time of 14.3 seconds and a combined fuel consumption of 31.4 mpg-imp (9.0 L/100 km; 26.1 mpg-US). The interior of the Kangoo Trekka was spartan and easy to clean. The rear bench seat could be folded forward to provide a 2,500-litre (88 cu ft) loading area to which sliding side doors provided good access.
The New Renault Kangoo and New Renault Kangoo Express were the new generation light commercial vehicle (LCV) in Renault's lineup. Based on the Scenic and manufactured in Maubeuge, sales began in January 2008. The Kangoo van is often used by La Poste, the national postal service of France. The Kangoo has 4 bodystyles: the Kangoo Compact, the Kangoo Van, the Kangoo Van Maxi, and the Kangoo Van Maxi Crew Van. The Kangoo Compact is used for smaller deliveries with a payload 500 kg, while the Kangoo Van is used for larger deliveries and has a payload of 650 or 800 kg. The Kangoo Van Maxi has the most payload of 800 kg and the Kangoo Van Maxi Crew Van has a maximum floor length of 1.33 meters. As part of its Z.E. electric car initiative, Renault has developed a Kangoo Express Z.E. model that will be manufactured at its Maubeuge plant. A planned Renault battery plant near Paris that will supply batteries for the vehicle was delayed due to technical constraints. Construction will start in the second quarter of 2012 and production of batteries is expected to be delayed to 2014 or 2015. Instead, Renault will have to buy batteries from a joint venture between Nissan Motor and NEC, and from LG Chem of South Korea. Customers in several countries can pre-reserve models at the Renault-ZE website with an expected release in 2011. European pricing is €20,000 before any government incentives and excluding VAT (€15,000 excluding VAT and including a tax incentive subsidy of €5,000). In addition to buying or leasing the vehicle there is a separate monthly subscription costing from €72 (excluding VAT) for the battery. Filling up' on energy (160 km) for Kangoo Express Z.E. will cost between one and two euros, depending on the local price of electricity (kWh). The Kangoo Express Z.E. has the same dimensions as the internal combustion model. It uses a synchronous electric motor with rotor coil. Its peak power is 44 kW (59 hp) at 10,500rpm, while maximum torque is 226 N·m (167 ft·lbf). Its top speed is capped electronically to 130 km/h (81 mph). The vehicle is powered by a 22 kW·h lithium-ion battery pack.
