With the Megane E-Tech, Renault at present has a really succesful electrical hatchback on sale in some markets world wide. The French firm additionally sells a combustion-powered sizzling hatch with an identical title – the Megane RS – however it appears that evidently will probably be discontinued a few 12 months from now. And that’s not only a rumor as there’s a affirmation coming from a Renault government.
Australia’s Drive lately had a chat with Glen Sealey, normal supervisor of Renault Australia, who instructed the web publication the Renault RS will bow out in late 2023 because the demand for gas-powered efficiency autos on this section is shrinking. Sealey didn’t particularly verify that the cancelation will cowl all international markets, although his phrases strongly counsel so.
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“Megane RS ceases subsequent 12 months. I don’t have the manufacturing finish date but, however from a manufacturing standpoint, it received’t proceed past the top of subsequent 12 months. The demand for a sizzling hatch in Europe is waning. That may be changed with an electrical automotive. And it makes commonsense to modify throughout,” Sealey instructed Drive.
Studying between the strains, Renault could possibly be engaged on a warmer model of the Megane E-Tech to match the ability and efficiency of the Megane RS. At present, essentially the most highly effective electrical Megane has 218 horsepower (160 kilowatts) and 221 pound-feet (300 Newton-meters) of torque for a 0-62 miles per hour (0-100 kilometers per hour) acceleration in about 7.4 seconds. The Megane RS in Trophy trim, in flip, is powered by a 1.8-liter turbocharged mill with 300 hp (223 kW) and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) so there’s loads of room for enchancment.
The way forward for the combustion sizzling hatch appears unsure, to say the least. At the very least in Australia, Renault will launch a restricted version last run mannequin and we suppose the identical may even occur in Europe. So far as a direct substitute is worried – with out together with a possible hotter Megane E-Tech – it appears extremely unlikely {that a} new ICE sizzling hatch could possibly be launched anytime quickly.
