Renault has been a key player in electrifying the European car market with its Clio-sized Zoe EV. It’s cheap, has a long range and has quirky looks, which always seem to go down well with us Brits. But now the company is planning to launch a bigger version for those after a bit more space.
It’s called the Megane eVision and, as you can probably tell by its name, it’s an all-electric concept car inspired by the company’s Megane hatchback. On the surface, it looks a lot like today’s Megane, complete with ultra-thin LED headlights, with a light bar mimicking the current model’s metal trim either side of the Renault badge.
But look a little closer and you’ll notice that concept’s proportions are similar to that of a mid-size crossover. In fact, it’s based on the CMF-EV electric platform that’s shared across the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and underpins the highly-anticipated Nissan Ariya electric crossover. That doesn’t really come as a surprise, given how popular SUVs are and that their design helps position the batteries under the cabin.
It’s a futuristic look, but Renault chief Luca de Meo told Autocar that it’s “95% what the production car will look like.”
In concept guise, the Megane eVision features a quote ‘ultra-compact’ 60kWh battery pack, which sits beneath the cabin, and boasts a WLTP-rated range of 280 miles. We’re not too sure on the powertrain set-up just yet, but it would likely carry over the single-motor system used in the Ariya, which produces 215bhp and 300Nm of torque.
There are no images of the interior just yet, but expect a cabin that’s a bit more roomy than the current Megane given that it’ll seemingly move over to an SUV body shape.
We’ll find out more about the Megane’s electric makeover when the covers come off early next year, ahead of orders opening before the end of 2021.
Keyword: Renault Megane eVision: hatch gets SUV looks and electric power