Say bonjour to the new Renault Megane, revealed officially ahead of its debut at the 2015 Frankfurt motor show. This is the fourth Megane, arriving a nice, round 20 years since the launch of the 1995 original.

Looks a bit sportier than the last one…

No wonder - it’s both lower and wider than the car it replaces. A lot wider, in fact – the front track’s a full 47mm broader, and the rear 39mm. No wonder its wheelarches are so fat. Expect lots of grip. And while the wheelbase has grown a touch, by 28mm, the overhangs have shrunk to give the new Megane a squat, four-square stance.

The blue car in the pictures is the range-topping GT version, which gets bulked-up bumpers, Renaultsport badges, 18-inch alloys and chrome tailpipes along with sportier chassis settings than the standard models. Click here to read CAR’s review of the outgoing Renault Megane GT 220 Coupe.


No missing those headlights...

The C-shaped LED pen flicks at the front are Renault’s latest design treatment, echoing those of larger, also brand-new (but not UK-bound) Talisman saloon/estate. The tail-lights, cribbed from the R.S 01 racing car, are packed with LEDs too.

Under the sharp new suit the Megane’s roots lie in the current Renault-Nissan mid-sized car platform that underpins the competent but unremarkable Nissan Pulsar. The Megane certainly looks a little more characterful than its cousin – let’s hope it’s at least a little bit more interesting to drive.

On which subject, a red-hot RS version will join the range further down the line. It’s got some big racing boots to fill – the outgoing go-faster Megane is one of our favourite driver’s cars on the planet.

Stay tuned for more details on the new Renault Megane, including engines and detailed specs as the Frankfurt show unfolds.

Click here for CAR’s A-Z guide to Frankfurt 2015.