Renault CEO Fabrice Cambolive confirmed the company is developing a performance version of its Megane electric hatchback, marking a shift toward hot hatch territory for the aging EV model.
Speaking at the Munich motor show, Cambolive said the updated Megane will receive more than just battery improvements. The French automaker plans to transform its first “Renaulution” electric vehicle into something that can compete with performance-focused EVs.
“For Megane E-Tech, what we are looking for is to have a hot hatch, that is the direction we want to go in,” Cambolive told media at the new Clio launch. “We want a sporty hatch.”
Visual Changes Essential for Market Appeal
Laurens van den Acker, Renault’s head of design, explained why the Megane needs more than technical upgrades to succeed in today’s competitive EV market.
“We need to sell more of them so we need to do something,” van den Acker said.
He emphasized that internal improvements alone won’t justify higher prices. “If you put a new battery in a car, which is expensive, and you don’t change the car, then it’s really hard to seduce people to pay more for it.”
The design chief identified a gap in Renault’s current lineup.
“What we thought was missing was a kind of hot hatch-looking EV.”
Technical Specifications and Timeline
Renault hasn’t released detailed specifications for the performance Megane, but industry sources expect significant upgrades. The current 60kWh battery will likely be replaced with the 87kWh unit from the Scenic.
This battery swap could push the Megane’s range from 285 miles to more than 380 miles.
Both the Megane and Scenic currently use a 215bhp motor. The hot hatch version will probably get a retuned version of that front-mounted unit to deliver performance that matches its visual updates.
The updated Megane is scheduled to arrive in 2026.
Expected changes include:
- More aggressive bodykit
- Larger alloy wheels
- Interior updates with performance trim
- Enhanced chassis tuning
Competition Within Renault Group
The performance Megane will join the Alpine A290 as Renault Group’s second hot hatch offering. The A290 uses a heavily modified Renault 5 platform with a 217bhp motor and specialized chassis setup.
The Megane was Renault’s first electric model under the “Renaulution” strategy but has been overshadowed by newer launches like the Scenic, Renault 5, and upcoming Renault 4.
This performance variant represents Renault’s attempt to revitalize interest in its oldest current EV while expanding its sporty electric vehicle portfolio.
