Renault has given its Megane - which we were surprised to hear is the brand's top selling model range (would you believe 235 000 sold in 2011, even in a depressed market?) - a salutary kick up the derriere for 2012 with three new engines, an upgrade for the flagship RS, and some LED running lights and fashionable gloss black and chrome for the automotive fashionistas among us.
But first, the new engines:
The all-new 1198cc TCe 115 is Renault's first turbopetrol with direct fuel injection. It replaces the previous, naturally aspirated 1.6-litre 16V, offering more power (up 4kW to 85kw) and more torque - up 40Nm to 190Nm, with 90 percent of that available from only 1650rpm.
That, says La Regie, makes it the best-performing 1.2-litre engine on the market, while using a claimed 25 percent less fuel - 5.3 litres per 100km (a saving of almost 1.5 litres/100km over the 1.6) and spewing only 119g/km of CO2. , to be exact, while ; .
Tank range is also up to more than 1000km, a figure more usually associated with diesel cars.
Speaking of which, the 2012 Megane will also be available with a choice of two uprated diesel engines, starting with the 1.5 dCi. Peak torque of Renault's most popular engine is now up 20Nm to 260Nm, available from as low as 1750rpm, while claimed fuel consumption has been reduced by almost 12 percent to 3.8 litres per 100km, and CO2 emission to 95g/km.
That not enough grunt for you? Try the dCi 130, which is rated at 96kW and 320Nm. Renault claims it's the most muscular 1.6 diesel on the market, while still quoting fuel consumption of just four litres per 100km in the combined cycle (an improvement of 20 percent over the 1.9 dCi it replaces) and CO2 emissions of 140g/km.
But the big cojones of the Megane family still belong to the RS, now boasting 195kW (up 11kW) and 360Nm (up 20Nm), thanks to a freer-breathing exhaust system and a reinforced sound pipe.
The Formula One-style front splitter now features two rows of six LEDs and the headlights are accentuated by black surrounds. The interior trim now carries red contrast stitching on the steering wheel, gear lever knob, gear lever gaiter and dashboard trim, with a black lacquer finish for the centre console and air vent surrounds, and a charcoal-effect finish for the door panel inserts.
Even the 'standard' Megane range now has a gloss black front bumper with chromed headlight units and LED running lights as standard, a completely new selection of rim designs and new interior trim packages.
Hill hold is now a standard function of the electronic parking brake, a twitch on the indicator stalk will give flashes to warn other drivers of your lane changes, and the rear parking camera overlays its picture with the car's projected trajectory according to steering-wheel position.
And, last but not least, the dual-zone automatic aircom now has a toxicity sensor that monitors cabin air quality and automatically activates the recycle mode when necessary.
High-tech options include automatic headlight dipping and lane departure warning.
The 2012 Megane will go on sale in Europe from March and in other markets, including South Africa, later in the year.