► New electric Renault concept
► Megane eVision will be real in 2021
► BEV powertrain and new platform
Renault is previewing its next steps in electrification with the new Megane eVision concept car. It previews a real Renault model that arrives at the end of 2021 to take on rivals like the VW ID.3 and Tesla Model 3.
It’s got the look
And a look we’ve already seen hints of in the Morphoz concept, too. Among other things, this Megane eVision previews a new design direction for the brand, with details like a muscular clamshell bonnet, floating roofline and slim grille vents front and rear. Renault says the eVision is shorter than a conventional family hatchback at 4.21m, mainly due to the platform underneath that we’ll get to in a moment.
Lighting plays an integral role here, too, with entirely joined-up light bars featuring front and rear. The transparent charging point highlights the charge at a glance, and Renault says novel use of ambient lighting inside injects some serious theatre to the cockpit.
It’s got the goods
The Megane eVision isn’t just some far-flung, pie-in-the-sky preview. Renault says it will put this model into production next year and, to highlight that fact, the concept seen here uses the new Alliance CMF-EV platform.
New Renault boss, Luca de Meo, said at the debut of the new concept that the platform has ‘broken the rules of size, use and design.’ He adds that ‘a whole family of new vehicles will be based on this new platform’, and that’s not just from Renault. Given it’s an alliance platform, Nissan has already debuted the Ariya SUV that uses the same underpinnings.
In the Megane eVision, there’s a 60kWh battery pack under the floor and a single 160kW e-motor driving the front wheels, good for 215bhp – a power figure Renault claims is one of the most powerful engines on sale – and a range of around 280 miles. These specs put the Megane eVision squarely up against the VW ID.3.
Anything else I should know?
Like the Morphoz, Renault says the Megane eVision will have vehicle-to-grid services, and connectivity services that will allow it to charge at certain times to avoid overloading the local grid.
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