(Fri 05 Feb 10)

Having sent out a teaser image in early January, Renault has now issued full details of the sixth model in the Megane range, the Coupé-Cabriolet.

Conventionally enough for a car of this type, the Megane has a two-piece roof which folds into the boot - or unfolds from it - in 21 seconds. More unusually, the roof is largely made of glass, so that even when it is in the "up" position the car is very obviously a convertible.

Folding away the roof reduces luggage space from 417 litres to 211 litres, but Renault claims the lowest sill height in the class (590mm) and the widest aperture width (258mm). Structural stiffness, always a problem in open-top cars, is said to be 80% greater than that of the previous-generation Coupé-Cabriolet, while the front and rear suspension have also been toughened up, the aim being to maintain ride and handling qualities as far as possible.

The Coupé-Cabriolet engine will be available with three petrol and three diesel engines, most of them mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The most powerful (140bhp) petrol unit gets a CVT instead, though, while the 110bhp diesel can optionally be fitted with the EDC six-speed electronically-controlled twin-clutch manual, which is here making its debut on any Renault model.

The world premiere of the Coupé-Cabriolet will be at the Geneva Show next month. UK prices and on-sale date will no doubt be confirmed round about then, or shortly afterwards.

Comment on this story on Facebook or Twitter.

Renault Gallery
Renault Road Tests

Previous: Vauxhall Swappage Scheme                               Next: SEAT Reveals Ibiza ST