Renault has introduced changes across the brand's quality flagship Mégane range with the release of the model's 'Collection 2012' line-up.
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Front-end looks have been made more contemporary thanks
to the incorporation of LED daytime running lights, while
the impression of quality has been further heightened by
the addition of gloss black and chrome styling details
which symbolise the line-up's overall improvements.
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Mégane Collection 2012 also stands out as the most
fuel-efficient car in its class thanks to the
introduction of three new engines: Energy dCi 110, Energy
dCi 130 and the brand new 115-horsepower Energy TCe 115.
The latter is the most powerful 1.2-litre petrol engine
in the market, yet it returns exceptionally low
combined-cycle fuel consumption (5.3 litres/100km,
equivalent to 119g of CO2/km), providing this version of
Mégane with a range of about 1,000km to put it on a par
with diesel models.
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For extra comfort and safety, Mégane Collection 2012
features driver aids like Visio System® and Hill Start
Assist which first became available for Collection 2012
versions of Scénic.
- Mégane Collection 2012 will go on sale from March in Europe, then in the course of the year elsewhere in the world (notably Turkey, Israel, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Russia and Argentina).
More modern front-end looks
Mégane Collection 2012 has undergone a number of small
styling changes compared to the model's original lines
which proved such a hit with customers. The front end has 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 entirely revised. The sum of
these modifications mirrors the attention that has been
paid to quality, an area which Renault sees as a priority.
Meanwhile, the cabin comes with new interior trims,
including a two-tone leather/Alcantara pack available in a
choice of three finishes (depending on market) The
Bose version is now an equipment level in its own right,
while the personality of the specific GT and GT-Line
finishes has been strengthened thanks to specific
'boomerang'-shaped LED lights, visible red upholstery
stitching and a sports steering wheel incorporating thumb
rests, plus Renault Sport-badged door sill guards and
dashboard trim strip which serve as a reminder that the GT
and GT-Line versions belong to the Renault Sport family.
Last but not least, the list of body colours available for
Mégane Collection 2012 has been extended with the addition
of Majorelle Blue and Pearlescent White.
Mégane Collection 2012: 'Energy' power under the
bonnet
Mégane Collection 2012 is the first Renault
model to be available with the three new Energy engines
which combine both motoring enjoyment and fuel efficiency.
They are the fruit of new-generation downsizing and call on
Renault's experience in F1 to form unprecedented technology
packages for this level of range, including Stop&Start
complete with deceleration/braking energy recovery (see
Energy sidebar). Thanks to their carefully-tuned acoustics,
these engines produce a discreet, cushioned sound, with
noise levels halved compared with the engines they
replace.
- Renault Energy TCe 115 - the return of petrol engines: the Renault Energy TCe 115 is the first Renault petrol engine to feature direct fuel injection and turbocharging for fuel-efficient performance. This new 1,198cc block is poised to replace the 1.6 16V and boasts both extra power (up 5hp to 115hp) and peak torque up 40Nm to 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. In addition to being the market's best-performing 1.2-litre petrol powerplant, the Renault Energy TCe 115 is particularly energy efficient, with fuel consumption down 25 per cent. Versions of Mégane Collection 2012 powered by this engine consume just 5.3 litres/100km (NEDC cycle), a saving of almost 1.5 litres/100km and a record for a petrol car in this class. CO2 emissions are down to 119g/km, while the car's range exceeds 1,000km, which is similar to the distances associated with diesel models.
Mégane Collection 2012 will also be available with the two best diesel engines in their class, both of which combine driving pleasure with the market's lowest fuel consumption.
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New diesel Energy dCi 110: the Mégane range's
best-selling 1.5 dCi engine has undergone a significant
metamorphosis with the introduction of technology first
introduced in 2011 on the Energy dCi 130, not to mention
record low fuel consumption which has been reduced by
almost 12 per cent, under 3.8 litres/100km. This is
equivalent to CO2 emissions below 95g/km and makes Mégane
one of its segment's top three models in terms of energy
efficiency. 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.
- Renault Energy dCi 130: this 1.6 litre diesel engine delivers 130 horsepower and 320Nm of torque, making it the market's most powerful powerplant for its size. It is also a pleasure to drive thanks to crisp acceleration performance from as low as 1,750rpm. Under the bonnet of Mégane, it returns NEDC combined-cycle fuel consumption of just 4.0 litres/100km, which is a 20 per cent saving compared to the former 1.9 dCi 130 engine. CO2 emissions stand at 104g/km, enabling it to qualify for the 'eco subsidy' available in France.
Useful, affordable technologies for an even more reassuring
drive
More than ever, enhancing everyday safety, making driving
easier and maximising travelling comfort are seen as
priorities for Renault.
Like Renault Scénic and Grand Scénic, Mégane Collection
2012 can be ordered with the Visio System® which comprises
a camera fixed to the windscreen behind the rear view
mirror. It improves night-time vision and helps maintain
driver vigilance thanks to two functions which it is the
first system of its type to feature.
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Automatically switches from main- to dipped-beam
headlights: night-time driving calls for total vigilance,
especially when it comes to optimising lighting in order
to benefit from maximum visibility without being a
hindrance for other road users. The Visio System® camera
improves night-time vision by permanently scanning the
road ahead. Whenever natural or street lighting is poor,
and when no other vehicles are detected, it automatically
switches to full-beam headlights at speeds of more than
45kph. Remembering to switch back to dipped beam is no
longer a constraint and the Visio System® permits the
driver to benefit from full-beam headlights between four
and five times longer than is the case without the
system. Visibility is enhanced (100 metres instead of 30
metres) and there is less risk of colliding with an
obstacle.
- Lane departure warning: the camera emits a warning if it believes that the vehicle has involuntarily changed lanes, an occurrence frequently due to drowsiness or a drop in driver vigilance, and a major cause of accidents, especially on motorways. If lane markings are crossed without the indicators having been being activated, visible and audible warnings are automatically activated.
Comfort has been further enhanced by a new Hill Start
Assist function. This feature is combined with the
electronic parking brake and keeps the brakes under
pressure for a few seconds, giving the driver enough time
to pull away without the vehicle moving backwards.
Meanwhile, Motorway Mode indicators facilitate driving: a
slight touch of the indicator stalk sets off three flashes
to warn other road users that the driver is about to change
lane. To assist parking manoeuvres, a camera located at the
rear provides a precise image of the vehicle's immediate
surroundings and depicts its trajectory to help drivers
adjust their line. Last but not least, the dual-zone
automatic climate control is now equipped with a toxicity
sensor which monitors cabin air quality and automatically
activates the air-recycling mode whenever necessary.
Mégane Collection 2012 continues to pack the technologies
that have contributed to the model's success. The brand new
R-Plug&Radio+ audio range is now equipped with Bluetooth®
hands-free telephony, connectivity and audio-streaming, as
well as Plug&Music connectivity and USB/jack sockets which
enable music stored on mobile devices to be controlled by
the vehicle's steering wheel-mounted fingertip control.
Also available are Carminat TomTom® navigation complete
with LIVE services (HD Traffic, real-time traffic
information, etc.) and tailor-engineered Bose® surround
sound.
Renault Mégane: the flagship of the 'Renault Quality
Made' campaign
Mégane Collection 2012 cars are manufactured in Palencia,
Spain, and benefit from rigorous production standards to
guarantee impeccable quality. The model recently featured
in a media campaign promoting quality 'à la française' and
is destined to serve as a global flagship for the Renault
group's expertise in this domain across the entire range,
from initial design to the showroom.
Jean-Pierre Vallaude (Senior Vice-President, Quality):
"Mégane is a credible ambassador for the quality of Renault
vehicles thanks to its outstanding reliability and
perceived quality which have improved with every evolution
of the model. Mégane is destined to become the worldwide
quality benchmark for all Renault vehicles…"
As the Renault brand's best-selling model, with sales
exceeding 235,000 units worldwide in 2011 and 730,000 units
since its launch at the end of 2008, Mégane today stands
out as one of the most reliable cars in its segment. This
reliability is recognised by the media (e.g. L'Automobile
Magazine's Reliability Top 100) and has been underlined by
independent bodies such as Germany's ADAC which have placed
it at the top end of their respective classifications.
Following the pledge to continue improving made by Renault
in 2003, Mégane III saw a 40 per cent reduction in
reliability-related incidents during a car's first year on
the road compared to its predecessor.
Mégane III has benefited from reinforced design and
validation processes which take both durability and ageing
into account. At the design phase, for example, a list of
100 specific points was taken into account to ensure
impeccable reliability and improve running- and appearance
durability compared to Mégane II. Special attention was
paid to reducing noise, improving sealing and the
reliability of electronic components.
Mégane R.S. Collection 2012: extra horsepower and
more torque for even punchier performance |
Energy engines: Renault's technological excellence in F1 carried over to road car engines for the benefit of all motorists "F1 provides us with an extraordinary proving ground to test new technologies in extreme conditions," says Carlos Tavares, Renault's Chief Operating Officer. "Our 30-year commitment to the sport has enabled us to develop our downsizing expertise, combat friction and control cooling, all of which contribute to improving the energy efficiency of our vehicles without spoiling driving enjoyment." With ten Constructors' world titles to its name, Renault called on talent from the world of Formula 1 to carry over the technological excellence acquired on the race track to the development of its new range of Energy engines. Philippe Coblence and Jean-Philippe Mercier, the men behind the success of Renault's V10 in the 1990s, were entrusted with the engineering development of the new Energy dCi 130 and Energy TCe 115 engines. Their skill has benefited road cars by taking the concept of downsizing to new limits thanks to solutions tried and tested in F1. Energy engines boast an unprecedented technological package for this level of range and have led to fuel consumption savings of up to 25 per cent compared to the engines they replace. |
distribué par | Ce noodl a été diffusé par Renault Group SA et initialement mise en ligne sur le site http://www.renault.com. La version originale est disponible ici. Ce noodl a été distribué par noodls dans son format d'origine et sans modification sur 2012-01-05 16:00:44 PM et restera accessible depuis ce lien permanent. Cette annonce est protégée par les règles du droit d'auteur et toute autre loi applicable, et son propriétaire est seul responsable de sa véracité et de son originalité. |