Tech Highlights

European Editor Stuart Birch gives a run down of some of the significant vehicle and technology debuts at the Paris Motor Show, beginning with the French automakers.

Mégane II-One of the more unlikely new production models at the Paris Motor Show was the Renault Mégane II, which breaks new ground in the design search for fresh identities for high-volume cars. Renault has four design centers- the Technocentre near Paris, another in the downtown area of the city, a third in Barcelona, and fourth in Korea. A total of 21 nationalities are represented in the centers, although more than half of the employees are French. This polyglot design population has helped to give Renault a reputation for production-car styling that looks more akin to offbeat concepts than day-to-day practical transport. The automotive world has become used to concepts that are firm indicators of future series models but tend to be relatively conservative or just have certain aspects that are used in a production version.

But under the guiding hand of Senior Vice President for Corporate Design, Patrick le Quément, Renault has been boldly melding the apparent dichotomy of much bolder concepts with production models. The Avantime was the first manifestation of this, followed by the Vel Satis, but both are relatively low-volume executive models. However, the X84 program-the Mégane II-is very much high volume, with production that will ultimately be available with seven different body styles. Hatch and Sport Hatch (coupe) are the first arrivals.