Design Exhibition: Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric

news7g03/20/2022

16 4 minutes read

Design Exhibition: Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric

Renault’s Mégane nameplate has been a mainstay of the automaker’s passenger line-up since the mid-1990s.

Designed to compete with compact hatchback models including Peugeot’s 308 (plus the 307 and 306 before it) and the Volkswagen Golf, each generation has overall offered a significant change in styling – no like the German alternative.

In the early 2000s, Renault brought in designer Patrick Le Quement on a mission to revive the brand, and organizational changes meant that design no longer matched engineering. The second generation Mégane is the poster child of the new, bolder Renault.

Borrowing cues from the larger Vel Satis and Avantime (neither of which are sold in Australia), this Mégane offers a pert tail that combines with a near-vertical rear panoramic screen to give a look especially different.

Controversial throughout production, Renault went back to more conservative designs for the third and fourth generation Mégane.

However, the launch of the EV coincides with what the French brand calls the ‘Nouvelle Vague’ era in its ‘Renaulution’ corporate strategy, under which it intends to transform itself into a technology company. modern clean energy and services.

As a result, this latest model has switched to electric, and therefore Renault has also chosen a more avant-garde styling for the Mégane E-Tech Electric. It is expected to arrive in Australia in 2023.

THAN: 2022 Renault Megane E-Tech Electric review

Design philosophy: Sensual technology

Current Renault designer Laurens van den Acker has given a family face to the Renault brand, with models including the current petrol Koleos, Captur, Arkana and Mégane (sold only as RS in Australia. ) are not duplicates, but share common themes and visual elements.

The Mégane E-Tech is the beginning of the second generation of this design philosophy and follows on from the previous Morphoz 2019 and Mégane eVision 2020 concepts.

Renault dubbed this design philosophy ‘sexy technology’, incorporating a few more elements focused on the worlds of hi-fi and hi-tech design.

On the exterior, this means contrasting softer exterior surfaces in the upper body, represented by the use of smooth, curved shapes to accentuate features such as the rear bumper and the rear bumpers. Strong geometric shapes on the front and rear bumpers such as the trapezoid, almost like arrows on the lower front grille.

Inside, the concept of ‘sexy technology’ is accentuated not only by the use of a large digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen (discussed further below), but also by the system. ambient lighting ‘Living Lighting’.

If activated by the driver, this includes interior ambient lighting that changes color gradually throughout the day to mimic the body’s natural circadian cycle and thus optimize the well-being of occupants. ship.

The stance and ratio

A dedicated EV platform can offer significant advantages in terms of packaging, space and efficiency over electric vehicles when the engine is simply replacing the electric motor and battery.

Called CMF-EV, The Mégane (and Nissan Ariya) platform allows for a number of technical benefits to enhance the vehicle’s visual appeal.

Essentially, eliminating the need for an engine means that this compartment only needs to house the air conditioner and other power electronic components, allowing for a shorter bonnet.

In addition, the CMF-EV allows for an extended wheelbase of 2.7m, combined with a very slim battery design measuring only 110mm in height, allowing for interior space and luggage compartment comparable to that of a pre-combustion engine Mégane. That’s despite the shorter total length of only 4.21m.

In terms of design, these improvements allow the new Mégane to have an almost go-kart stance, wheels at every corner. Other aspects of the exterior styling, such as the sloping rear windscreen and taillight bar further contribute to this muscular, squat look.

On higher-end versions, this proportion is outweighed by large 20-inch wheels (for the class) and two-tone paint, especially the contrasting black roof that acts as an optical illusion to lower The low contour of the hood gives a more aggressive look, hinting at the car’s low center of gravity.

inland

Most electric vehicles don’t need a transmission tunnel, and the CMF-EV platform used by Renault’s new Mégane means it’s no exception.

It seems that the interior designers at Renault have managed to strike the perfect balance between having a clear horizontal axis to maximize this feeling of wide and spacious, while allowing the cockpit to focus on rider with the usability of the large portrait touchscreen.

The horizontal axis, at least on the higher trim levels, is evidenced by the full-width ‘Nuo’ genuine wood trim panel, which wraps around with a matte finish extending to the front doors (and also used in the rear compartment) to draw the driver’s eye around the cabin.

Meanwhile, the use of a bright display combined with an anti-reflective coating eliminates the need for the instrument cluster, thus allowing both the instrument cluster and the central infotainment display to be attached to a single panel. unify with the free appearance, further enhancing the airiness of the interior.

The use of the Android Automotive operating system further allows the use of hard buttons to be reduced to just the essentials without sacrificing user-friendliness, with the display also tilted towards the driver. for easier use.

The lower center console and rear passenger area are said to be where the lack of transmission tunnel benefits the most. At the front, Mégane designers have used the freed up space to create an open center console, ideal for storing larger purses or bags, while the pads are removable. flexibility is also used.

At the back, the car has a completely flat floor so that three passengers can sit comfortably without having to stretch their legs.

Other convenient details

Perhaps one of the key details that serve both aesthetic and functional purposes on the Mégane is the use of hidden door handles.

This not only allowed the designers to create the fluid, fluid shapes of the Mégane’s upper body without interruption, but also allowed enhanced aerodynamics, contributing to greater efficiency. and thus optimize the vehicle’s range.

Interestingly, the Mégane’s taillights are notable for not only housing a light bar, but also employing multiple ‘laser-cut micro-fibers’ to create an intricate 3D wave-like effect, with the brake lights as well. illuminates ‘ Pause signal when signaling to other drivers that the vehicle is slowing down.