After a series of leaks, some of which even ended up involving the French police –see here, Renault has finally released initial details and photos of the all-new 5door Megane that will debut along with the sportier 3door variant of the subcompact hatch at the Paris Motor Show in October. The first thing that anyone will notice on the 5door Megane is its more conservative styling compared with the love-it or hate-it design of the outgoing model. Inside, the new Megane boasts an elegantly styled dashboard that takes several design cues from the Laguna. 
Renault’s new proposition in the European C-Segment that will challenge the VW Golf VI and the Ford Focus, is bigger and roomier that its predecessor measuring in at 4.3m in length with a 2.64m wheelbase. Despite the increase in size, the French automaker supports that the third generation Megane is an average 8kg or 17.8 lbs lighter than its predecessor. -Continued
When the new Megane hits European dealerships in the next few weeks, it will be offered with an array of diesel and petrol engines. The diesel range will include the 1.5-liter dCi with outputs of 85 HP, 90 HP, 105 HP and 110 HP (depending on the market) as well as the dCi 130 HP and the top-of-the-line, dCi 150HP (automatic) and dCi 160HP (manual gearbox)
Depending on market, the petrol range will comprise the 1.6-liter 100HP and 110HP engines, as well as the 2.0-liter 140HP and the TCe 180 HP. The 2.0-liter 140HP engine will be available from launch with a six-speed manual gearbox, while continuously variable transmission will be introduced with this powerplant at a later date. Renault's latest petrol engine, the 1.4-liter turbocharged TCe 130 HP engine will be added to the catalogue in the spring of 2009. Depending on version, these engines can be mated to five- or six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
Apart from the 5door Megane seen here and the 3door coupe that will be shown at Paris, Renault plans to add another four distinct body styles (including 4door sedan, a station wagon and a hardtop cabriolet model) to the range by 2010.
