Renault South Africa (SA) has had a good year to date. Sales for the first half of the year reached 8 272 units, up 83% on last year’s 4 515 new vehicles, this while the country’s new-vehicle market has moved into negative territory for the year.

Renault SA MD Niall Lynch says Renault’s position in the market has “changed quite dramatically”. He attributes the jump to “great product”, such as the new Clio, Duster and Sandero models, all launched since the beginning of 2013.

Renault’s fourth product pillar, the Mégane has now also been refreshed, with Lynch hopeful it will be the next component of “Renault’s volume success” in South Africa. (There is also talk of a possible fifth volume pillar for the brand in South Africa, in the form of a bigger-sized sports utility vehicle than the Duster.)

Fact is, local Mégane sales have dwindled to around 40 a month, down from the roughly 100 units a month recorded on average in 2013 and 2012.

Renault SA marketing and communications VP Fabien Payzan says the Mégane five-door hatch and three-door coupé compete in the C-segment, which is South Africa’s third-biggest segment, with 36 000 units sold in 2013, and 15 910 units in the first six months of this year.

The new Mégane competes against the Volkswagen Golf, the BMW 1 Series and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

Payzan hopes the updated Mégane, which features a new 1.2 ℓ turbo engine, will again push model sales above 100 units a month.

The new range offers three models, with the 1.6 ℓ Megane Dynamique not much different to the model currently on the road. The new architecture can be found in the GT-Line Turbo 97 kW and GT Turbo 162 kW derivatives.

All versions of the new Mégane range come standard with six airbags (front, side and curtain); antilock braking coupled with emergency brake assist; cruise control plus speed limiter; and electronic stability programme with electronic antislip regulation.

Also standard across the range are dual-zone climate control; fingertip controls behind the steering wheel; an integrated navigation system that includes Live services, such as real-time traffic and weather updates; Bluetooth connectivity; USB port; auto vehicle lock/unlocking; and rear-park assist.

Renault’s new four-cylinder 1.2 ℓ turbo engine makes its debut in the GT-Line model.

The engine features a 100% aluminum block, variable valve timing at intake and exhaust, a controlled variable oil pump, a stop/start function, energy smart management and regenerative braking.

The result is an output of 97 kW at 5 500 rpm and maximum torque of 205 Nm available between 2 000 rpm and 3 000 rpm. This means it outperforms the 1.4 ℓ turbo engine it replaces, as well as most naturally aspirated 1.6 ℓ or 1.8 ℓ engines.

The engine promises combined urban and freeway fuel consumption of 5.4 ℓ/100 km, which is 14% less, compared with the previous 1.4 ℓ turbo engine.

Payzan says sales of vehicles featuring down-sized engines have increased from 27% of all Renault sales in South Africa in the third quarter of 2013 to 56%, with the new Mégane expected to take this to 70%.

The introduction of the GT Turbo 162 kW derivative is Renault’s response to customers who want a bit more oomph on the road.

Here the French carmaker uses its 2 ℓ turbo sport engine, delivering maximum power of 162 kW between 4 750 rpm and 6 500 rpm, with maximum torque of 340 Nm available between 2 400 rpm and 3 500 rpm. Zero to 100 km/h is possible within 7.6 seconds.

Renault promises fuel efficiency of around 7.3 ℓ/100 km in the combined cycle.

The new Mégane line-up comes standard with a five-year/150 000 km warranty, as well as a five-year/90 000 km service plan.

Pricing starts at R249 900 for the Dynamique hatch or coupé, R279 900 for the GT-Line and R329 000 for the GT Turbo.