GT. Grand Tourer. A phrase associated with Bentleys, older Aston Martins and front-engined Ferraris.It's a term that conjures up images of idle plutocrats blasting across Europe in a Maserati, or continent-wide epic rolling journeys of discovery. It is not something we'd readily associate with a slightly underwhelming French family-size hatchback.
That though, is what Renault seem to want to do with the new Megane GT. Pitched somewhere between the Renaultsport Megane and the rest of the range, they offer reasonable performance without shouting too loudly about it and pretending to be some kind of rally superstar.
Available to order now with either a 165bhp turbo 2.0 four, or a 150bhp 2.0 dCi diesel powerplant, the GT should pootle along as a reasonable pace.
External styling cues are limited to a subtle-ish bodykit and a ridiculous, GT-branded, chrome plater between the twin rear exhausts.17" alloys, ESP, ASR and CSV traction and steering control systems, and sports seats come as standard - all for between £16,170 and £17,670. That is a couple of grand less than the similarly specced VW Golf GT - but we'd like to bet more drivers are willing to pay the premium for the perceived increase in quality and the Golf's added on-road appeal.
Still, we'll have to wait and see and - if anyone actually buys one - you'll see the GT on the roads later this year.
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