GENEVA — While the Italian coachbuilders explored tired old themes, French automaker Renault once again surprised — and mostly delighted — early 2008 Geneva Auto Show goers with a glimpse of its future Mégane Coupe in a sleek concept.
The Mégane Coupe Concept previews the production two-door that's due in 2009, with a few extra twists thrown in just for fun. Its fluid shape, which points to the future direction of Renault design, is accented by a quirky set of gullwing-type doors.
"This showcar emphatically showcases the evolution at Renault Design. Its squatter proportions and powerful, energetic styling talk directly to the driver's senses; they say 'driving pleasure.' The spectacular, unprecedented door-opening kinematics add that little touch of magic which contributes to the dream factor associated with the automobile," observes Patrick Le Quément, senior vice president of corporate design at Renault and one of Europe's most respected and influential designers.
Among the concept's features are LED headlamps and foglamps, accented by aluminum-finish air intakes and four independent light tubes at the rear, housed in the bodywork. Those unusual doors, which Renault likens to "dragonfly wings," are divided into two sections, with the rear of the doors connected to the body structure by carbon arms.
The cockpit contains independent, asymmetric front seats that have a wafer-like shape and appear to float above the floor. The layered center console extends to the rear seats. The instrument panel is finished in red lacquer with black nubuck inserts and houses aviator-style analog gauges with white graphics and red backlighting.
Renault has finished the Mégane Coupe Concept in an iridescent Dragon Gray paint scheme. Features include a four-zone climate control system and a portable Samsung P2 audio/video multimedia player with touchscreen.
The Mégane Coupe Concept rides on Michelin Pilot Sport 245/35ZR21 tires and is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter gas engine that makes 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. Driving the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, the engine propels the car from zero to 60 mph in less than 7.2 seconds, while returning fuel economy of 36 mpg.
What this means to you: Renault's vision of the future, as embodied in its concept designs, is taking firmer shape. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
The Mégane Coupe Concept previews the production two-door that's due in 2009, with a few extra twists thrown in just for fun. Its fluid shape, which points to the future direction of Renault design, is accented by a quirky set of gullwing-type doors.
"This showcar emphatically showcases the evolution at Renault Design. Its squatter proportions and powerful, energetic styling talk directly to the driver's senses; they say 'driving pleasure.' The spectacular, unprecedented door-opening kinematics add that little touch of magic which contributes to the dream factor associated with the automobile," observes Patrick Le Quément, senior vice president of corporate design at Renault and one of Europe's most respected and influential designers.
Among the concept's features are LED headlamps and foglamps, accented by aluminum-finish air intakes and four independent light tubes at the rear, housed in the bodywork. Those unusual doors, which Renault likens to "dragonfly wings," are divided into two sections, with the rear of the doors connected to the body structure by carbon arms.
The cockpit contains independent, asymmetric front seats that have a wafer-like shape and appear to float above the floor. The layered center console extends to the rear seats. The instrument panel is finished in red lacquer with black nubuck inserts and houses aviator-style analog gauges with white graphics and red backlighting.
Renault has finished the Mégane Coupe Concept in an iridescent Dragon Gray paint scheme. Features include a four-zone climate control system and a portable Samsung P2 audio/video multimedia player with touchscreen.
The Mégane Coupe Concept rides on Michelin Pilot Sport 245/35ZR21 tires and is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter gas engine that makes 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. Driving the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, the engine propels the car from zero to 60 mph in less than 7.2 seconds, while returning fuel economy of 36 mpg.
What this means to you: Renault's vision of the future, as embodied in its concept designs, is taking firmer shape. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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