IF YOU want to make a Renault boss smile there is one word that will do the trick - Megane.
The reason being that this mainstream mid-ranger has racked up the Francs and Euros in astonishing style for years.
And now that the Megane is in a new generation which features the latest styling features, it is on course for even greater things.
For a start, this highly individual alternative to the likes of the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra stepped in with the lowest ever insurance group in the lower medium sector. Its 3E start-off rating raised eyebrows among the opposition as the Megane delivered the final blow of a devastating one-two attack by netting the ultimate five stars in the EuroNCAP crash tests.
Oh, and let's not forget that it scooped the International Car of the Year award for 2003. Formidable, as the French say.
The Megane demonstrates just how different it is with its amazing Renault Card, a gizmo that introduced technology never before seen in a mass-market car.
Gone are the days of fumbling for a key, because the technology uses proximity sensors to detect the presence of the card on the owner's person - whether in a pocket or handbag - and unlocks the required door once the owner touches the door handle.
Once inside the driver just has to press a button to start the engine and press it again to stop, thanks to sensors again detecting the presence of the card.
This is the second generation of the Renault hands-free system, operated and proven on the Laguna. The Renault card system is fitted as standard on all top-of-the-range Privilege models and a £250 option on others.
In terms of styling the new Megane is totally different to the previous model. From the front it is fairly conventional, but the rear features the strange wrap around style seen on the over-adventurous Avantime GT.
Can't say I like the rear end styling - it looks somewhat waspish to me - but I am sure the no votes are outnumbered by the Renault fans who will drool over it.
If the new Megane reminds me of anything from Renault's past it is the long defunct 16 of the early 70s - a large roomy hatchback with a silky smooth column change - a car I have always rated as one of the best Renaults ever.
This test was my first experience of the new Megane and it was in a 1.9 Privilege dci model of 120bhp. First impressions were of a high level of equipment - class leading, in fact, throughout the range which costs from £10,500 to £15,700.
But the biggest plus factor came when I was constantly looking at the fuel tank indicator and deciding it had gone wrong. It hardly moved during some long and heavy driving. No, I was wrong, because the Megane was turning in at least 53mpg and more on long runs
FAST FACTS
Renault Megane 1.9 dCi Privilege
Price: £15,505
Mechanical: 120bhp, 1,870 direct injection turbo diesel engine driving front wheels via six-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 122 mph.
0-62mph: 10.5 seconds
Combined mpg: 52.3
Insurance Group: 7
CO2 emissions: 144g/km
BiK Rating: 18%
Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles; 12 yrs anti-rust; 3 yrs paint