Out with the bold for Mégane 3-dr

Sporting its new slimline rear end, the Mgane took centre stage at the Paris show last week. And all eyes were on the homegrown sporty Coup, as it made its public debut alongside the five-door hatch. Although they share the same width, the three-door sits 12mm lower and has more aggressive front end styling. The cabin is more spacious than the existing three-door's, with additional rear headroom. The biggest change is that the bold 'derrire' has been ditched for a more curvaceous look, with a shallow rear screen and high shoulder line – a move that design chief Anthony Grade hopes will boost the Mgane Coup's popularity. "The old look was polarising. That's something you can't afford to do," he said. Diesel and petrol engines, including biofuel-friendly units, will be offered from launch, joined in spring by Renault's new 1.4-litre TCe 130 petrol engine. The hatch goes on sale next month priced from £13,995. The Coup arrives in UK showrooms in January.