The New Renault Megane GT
Ridin’ in Style with Leruo Mophuting
As all car brands jostle to solidify their supremacy in the hot hatch market, Renault who have been ‘relatively quiet’ in a segment they once dominated has burst through the doors and upped the ante with revival of the Megan. Voted European Car of the Year for 2003, whilst also becoming the first car in its class to receive a five star EuroNCAP rating, Renault’s 2018 Megane is a far cry from the simplistic fun of the old Megane.
The fourth-generation Megane enters the market with a GT version topping its range, This five door hot hatch comes with a huge array of tech as well as great looks! On the outside, the Megane sports a far more racier look, especially on the front end with chrome tips around the functional air intakes. The front grille is also beautifully contoured around the awesome signature headlights that feature with C-shaped daytime running lights.
Contrary to what you may think, the Renault Megane GT offers more than just a visual punch! Underneath the hood sits a seven speed dual-clutch gearbox with a 1.6 litre turbocharged engine that delivers a whooping 205bhp and 280Nm of torque- numbers that are very close/if not on par to other hot hatches, even though the Megane has a smaller engine that is admittedly more favourable and economic.
All this power is superbly handled by Renault’s new four-wheel steering system, dubbed 4Control by the company. So at low speeds, it turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction to those at the front, making it easier to manoeuvre and more agile in tight corners. Above 80kph, the front and rear wheels angle in the same direction, boosting stability – and therefore confidence around faster corners.
The Megane GT also offers an interior that is impressively well-upholstered, with a digital instrument cluster (speedometer) and soft-touch materials. The centre of the dashboard houses the infotainment system which comes with the option of portrait or landscape orientation, packed with all the bells and whistles including Apple Carplay, Renault Sport badges and a nice, chunky steering wheel with good grip. To top it off, the supportive bucket seats are extremely comfortable and offer a low, sporty seating position, which doesn’t sacrifice visibility. Ambient lighting that changes to red if you press the RS Drive button accentuates the Megane’s aggressive side!
The Renault Megane GT is certainly a hot hatch to look out for, it not only offers a good balance of practicality and useable performance, but also good looks with an equally attractive price tag.