Renault: New Megane can ‘do a Golf’

Renault Australia boss Justin Hocevar is confident the next generation Megane hatch can propel the French brand to the next level in Australia - just as recent Volkswagen Golfs have done for the German brand.

The new Megane, which isn't due until 2016, will be based on all-new underpinnings and benefit from the new design philosophy of creative director Laurens van den Acker, who joined the French brand in 2009 and oversaw the new Clio and Captur models.

Even though the current Megane will be eight years old in 2016 Hocevar believes the new car will be worth the wait.

"I think the context of what has happened during that time at Renault," Hocevar tells Drive. "A new head of design, the leadership of Laurens van den Acker, he's had to roll out that new brand identity across the range."

He believes van den Acker's new design style and the investment of Renault-Nissan in new underpinnings, engines and transmissions will help the French brand elevate itself from a bit player in the small car market. He believes the new Megane has the potential to become a larger contender in the segment and rival the Japanese and Korean models that dominate the sales charts.

"Just like the arrival of Clio has really signalled that coming of age of the Renault brand in the Australian market - a style leader within its segment, an award winning car within its segment, with the right price, the right packaging – I think it's fair to say future products we'll see from van den Acker, like Captur… we'll continue to see that approach taken to our other vehicles in other segments. And that is what is going to take us to another level," Hocevar says.

"Golf was a very long-haul for Volkswagen. I don't think success is going to come to us overnight, I think it's going to take a lot of continued focus and hard work to develop the brand. We don't shy away from that. We're here for the long-haul… I think by the time we reach those new generation cars, that's the time for us to take it to a new level."

The Megane will ride on the new Renault-Nissan modular underpinnings which form the basis for the current Nissan X-Trail and Qashqai SUVs.