The all-new Renault Megane will cost from £16,600.
That puts it around £1400 above the starting price of a Vauxhall Astra, but £800 below what you’ll pay for a basic SEAT Leon.
Buyers will be able to choose from 25 versions based on six trim levels: Expression+, Dynamique Nav, Dynamique S Nav, Signature Nav, GT-Line Nav and GT Nav.
The list of standard equipment on Expression+ cars includes cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, LED daytime running lights and a DAB radio.
At launch, buyers can choose between four engines – two petrols and two diesels. The most efficient option, the dCi diesel 110, returns a claimed 76.4mpg with CO2 emissions of 96g/km. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard on most cars, but a six-speed automatic is also available. Next year, Renault will add a hybrid model to the range, alongside a more powerful diesel option.
A Sport Tourer estate model will be added to the range later this year.
Meanwhile, a pair of electric cars from ‘06 and ‘07 are up for sale, but these two are a bit special. They’re more than 100 years old.
The 1906 Pope Waverley Victoria Phaeton and the 1907 Victor High Wheel Electric Runabout are to be sold by Historics at Brooklands in June, and while electric cars might be held as the future of private transport, they also have an important place in its past.
There were over 100 different car manufacturers making cars powered by batteries in the early 20th century.
The Nebraska-built Victoria Phaeton originally sold for 1,600 US dollars, and is notable for its supreme presentation. Fully restored and elegant in the extreme, the convertible features a leather-lined hood.
The very compact 1907 Victor High Wheel Runabout, built one year later in Indianapolis, spent many years on display in an American Museum. Both cars are expected to achieve £30,000-£40,000. For more information, visit www.historics.co.uk.