The Megane range

Only the front wings, bonnet and front light clusters are shared between the hatch and Coupe. The Coupe even sits on a chassis that's 12mm lower.

The two versions represent the first of six related new small-to-medium cars that Renault will introduce between now and 2010.

You don't need to be a genius to guess that replacements for the Scenic range, the Megane Tourer (estate) and the Megane CC (convertible) are close to being finished.

For the hatch, there will be six engines at launch, five of which will be available in the Coupe. Another four are due to be added in the early part of 2009.

The petrol line-up starts with 100bhp and 110bhp 1.6-litre options plus a new 180bhp 2.0-litre turbo that thumps out 244lb ft of torque at only 2250rpm.

The diesel range is made up of 86bhp and 106bhp 1.5-litre engines, both emitting less than 120g/km of CO2, and a 130bhp 1.9.

In the pipeline, there's a 130bhp 1.4-litre petrol turbo, a 140bhp 2.0-litre engine mated to a continuously variable automatic gearbox, a 150bhp 2.0-litre diesel with auto transmission and a 160bhp 2.0-litre diesel manual.

The only engine the Coup misses out on is the lower-powered petrol 1.6.