Renault Megane Hatchback
The Renault Mégane I was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1995 as the successor to the Renault 19. The Mégane model was an updated re-style of its predecessor featuring the same floorpan, engines, transmissions, and chassis design; however, with several modifications. The name was taken from a concept car that was shown in 1988 and it adopted the same "bird-beak" front grille that was previously seen on the Renault 16 from the 1960s. The Mégane was produced at the company's Douai plant in France and at their Palencia factory in Spain.
Renault emphasized on safety with the Megane I, as it was the first car to implement their new safety focus. It included a pillar-mounted 3-point seatbelt, front belt pre-tensioners and load limiters, driver's airbag, and an advanced safety structure, surpassing many cars released in 1995. Some features like the 3-point belt had already debuted on the Renault 19 safety concept car and were later seen on the Renault Laguna. The model also featured Renault's System of Restraint and Protection (SRP) which optimizes occupant restraint with the help of the seat, belt, pretensioner, load limiter, and airbag. These features enabled the Megane I to obtain a 4-star rating after a 1998 Euro NCAP crash test.
In 1996, Renault launched the Mégane Scénic compact MPV. Power came from the Renault E-type engine in 1.4 and 1.6-liters, and the F-type unit in both 1.9-liter diesel and 2.0-liter petrol varieties, with several 16-valve derivatives. The Renaultsport bodywork was offered as a limited-edition with the first phase; however, it has been discontinued, thus increasing its value. On the other hand, the estate version of the Mégane I was only available in left-hand drive configuration.
The spring of 1999 brought a mild facelift to the Mégane I with an altered grille, additional safety features, upgraded equipment, as well as 16-valve engines across the range. An estate body style was also introduced to mainland Europe, while production in Latin America continued until 2009.
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