The Renault Mégane has undergone a number of styling changes, refreshing the range for 2013, with prices starting at €18,990.

New styling sees the front end with a more modern feel, while LED daytime running lights provide a distinctive new lighting signature. The bumper features a gloss black finish with chrome highlights, and the selection of wheels has been revised.

The new Mégane is the first Renault model to be available with the two new ‘Stop & Start’ engines which combine both motoring enjoyment and fuel efficiency. Renault say that they are the fruit of new-generation downsizing and call on their experience in F1 to form unprecedented technology packages for this level of range, including Stop & Start complete with deceleration and braking energy recovery.

They add that it is thanks to their carefully-tuned acoustics, these engines produce a discreet, cushioned sound, with noise levels halved compared with the engines they replace.

The Renault TCe 115 Stop & Start is the first Renault petrol engine to feature direct fuel injection and turbocharging for fuel-efficient performance. This new 1,198cc engine boasts 115hp and peak torque of 190Nm, with 90 per cent of this figure available from 1,650rpm. Its flexibility and acceleration from low revs are consequently similar to those of a diesel engine.

Renault boasts that in addition to being the market’s best-performing 1.2-litre petrol powerplant, the Renault TCe 115 Stop & Start is particularly energy and fuel efficient. Versions of Mégane powered by this engine consume just 53.3 mpg (combined cycle), a record for a petrol car in this class. CO2 emissions are 119g/km, while the car’s range is in the region of 620 miles, which is similar to the distances associated with diesel models. Mégane is in the lowest tax band A at €160 a year.

In addition to the addition of Stop & Start, the Mégane range’s best-selling 1.5 dCi engine has undergone a significant metamorphosis with the introduction of new technology, with claimed record low fuel consumption of 80.7 mpg.

This is equivalent to CO2 emissions of just 90g/km and makes Mégane one of its segment’s top three models in terms of energy efficiency. Equally impressive is that Renault say that there has been no corresponding fall-off in performance, however, since peak torque is up 20Nm to 260Nm, which is available from as low as 1,750rpm.

Other new useful technology in the refreshed Mégane range includes radio equipped with Bluetooth hands-free telephony, connectivity and audio-streaming, as well as multi-functional ‘TunePoint’ and USB/jack sockets which enable music stored on mobile devices to be controlled by the vehicle’s steering wheel-mounted fingertip control.
Comfort in New Mégane has also been further enhanced by motorway mode indicators to facilitate driving. Just a slight touch of the indicator stalk sets off three flashes to warn other road users that the driver is about to change lane, as well as cruise control and a leather steering wheel from the Dynamique trim level.

In the cabin the dual-zone automatic climate control is now equipped with a quality sensor which monitors cabin air quality and automatically activates the air-recycling mode whenever necessary.

Julien Lelorrain, the Marketing Director at Renault Ireland said: “The new Mégane is amongst the newest cars introduced in this segment on the Irish market. New Mégane is even more refined with its stylish front and economical engines and is now even more affordable thanks to our ReFlex offer from €189 per month. We are delighted to bring further peace of mind to our customers in protecting the prices of our range of cars against any eventual tax increase in the budget when you place your order before the 31st December. This means our customers know exactly what they will have to pay when they collect their car 2013; we are the first manufacturer to offer such a scheme”.

Renault Ireland says that it will guarantee the price of your new Mégane, no matter what the outcome is in the upcoming December Budget, for orders taken before the end of this year (31/12/12).