Next autumn, Renault will present the production version of the Megane eVision prototype. This electric compact will have the task of facing the future Tesla “Model C” and the Volkswagen ID.3. Although its production will begin in Douai (France) in September 2021, it will not reach dealers until early 2022.
Sitting on the CMF-EV modular platform of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, which the Nissan Ariya recently released, this vehicle will have nothing to do from the point of view with the thermal Megane currently sold by the diamond firm, which uses the CMF-C / D multi-energy platform of the Franco-Japanese group.
Initially, the Megane eVision (whose last name could be Megane Electric) will be offered with two battery packs: one of 40 kWh that will provide a range of more than 190 miles, and another of 60 kWh with which will take it further than 280 miles. The batteries will have a structural design (they will only be 11 cm high), liquid cooling, and use cells of LG Chem origin.
The 60 kWh version will use an electric motor with 217 hp (160 kW) of power and 300 Nm of torque, while the 40 kWh version could have a more modest 136 hp (100 kW) engine. In both cases, the Megane eVision will be front-wheel drive (initially, it will not have all-wheel-drive variants, although the CMF-EV platform is prepared to offer this option).
Regarding the load, the Megane eVisión will reach powers of 22 kW in alternating current and 130 kW in direct current. Also, it has been confirmed that the model will have a MyLink infotainment system with two screens (one horizontal as instrumentation and the other for touch in vertical format) based on technology from the giant Google.
Although there are still a few months to go before its launch, thanks to a series of spy photos of the test mules, we can take a closer look at the design of the car, which a very short hood will characterize, a wide wheelbase (2.70 meters long in the original prototype) and a rear very similar to that of the successful Clio. The use of large diameter wheels (between 18 and 20 inches) should also be noted as very narrow, which will improve the overall efficiency of the car.