The Megane was first presented at the 1988 Paris Auto Show. Developed over five years between Renault and French television-broadcasting company TDF, the Megane was an aerodynamic four-seat sedan with a low drag coefficient of 0.21. The Megane was designed with optimum luxury in mind with first-class aircraft-style seats, a pull-out trunk, and electronic sliding doors. The Megane’s 130-horsepower engine thrust the car from 0-60 miles per hour in eight seconds. A 3-liter turbocharged V6 engine also propelled the Megane to a top speed of 160 miles per hour. The front passenger seat could rotate to face the rear passengers as the seat belt traveled along with the seat. The rear bench seat could recline as the rear window slid back along rails to create more headroom. The single front windshield wiper was concealed under a panel until engaged. The fully-adjustable driver console consisted of analog gauges, a simple steering wheel, two rear-vision monitors, and easy-to-reach controls. Fixed windows, with partially-movable sections on the front windows, limited interior ventilation, aside from the electronic air conditioning system. The rear passengers used two retractable ceiling-mounted televisions to display the atlas system mounted upfront. The rear seats were also divided by a cooler for food and drink storage. The navigational system also provided information on upcoming hotels, restaurants, etc. A hands-free telephone was built into the front section, while the rear was fitted with a hand-held phone. The transmission was automatic, which could be switched to a clutch-less manual. This concept was build by Turin-based coachbuilder Coggiola.
Images: Renault; Concept Car Central; Mario Buonocunto Concept Cars Page
