The New Megane Sport Saloon And Sport Tourer
Published: 23rd June 2003
New Mégane Sport Tourer and Sport Saloon combine expressive design with roominess not previously seen in the segment. They offer the most generous dimensions in their class. Unlike the majority of estate car and saloon versions in the market, whose wheelbase and rear door dimensions remain identical with those of the hatchbacks from which they are derived, the Sport Tourer and Sport Saloon have a wheelbase which is 61mm longer than that of the Hatch. This wheelbase directly benefits the back seats, whose knee room (230mm) is now the largest in the segment. The rear doors, noticeably longer than those of the Hatch, also make for easier accessibility.
In addition, the rear overhang is increased by 228 and 230mm respectively for the Sport Saloon and Sport Tourer by comparison with the Hatch. This change creates a load volume of 520 litres, usefully larger not only than their predecessors (+35 litres for the Sport Tourer and +10 litres for the Sport Saloon) but also than that of their competitors.
The benchmark for dynamic behaviour
For controlled progress in all circumstances, both the New Mégane Sport Tourer and Sport Saloon boast high levels of road-holding and braking. Developed on the platform of the New Mégane programme, these two versions are equipped with the new suspension systems already proven in the New Mégane Hatch and Sport Hatch, but with settings adapted to their own particular back-end layout.
ABS and emergency brake assist are standard across the range while optional equipment includes a tyre pressure monitoring system, and new-generation ESP which includes CSV Understeer Control. The electric variable-assistance power steering is carried over to ensure great precision of control, thanks to characteristics which are adapted to all types of driving.
The Sport Tourer and Sport Saloon will be offered from launch with a wide range of economical but powerful engines, plus both manual and automatic transmissions.
The petrol engine range will comprise three units: 98bhp 1.4 16V, 115bhp 1.6 VVT and 136bhp 2.0 VVT, while the common-rail diesel range will offer 80bhp 1.5dCI and 120bhp 1.9dCi units initially, to be followed later by the 100bhp 1.5dCi and the 140bhp 1.9dCi. All these engines will drive through five-speed or six-speed manual gearboxes.
The 1.6 16V, 2.0 16V and 100bhp 1.5 dCi engines will also be available with the Proactive automatic transmission with flick-shift selection.
