GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Renault Megane Sport Tourer GT revealed

Renault has revealed its all-new Megane Sport Tourer ahead of the Geneva motor show next week.

Taking the wraps off the top-of-the-range Sport Tourer GT, the all-new Megane-based wagon, which will be sold in Australia, clearly sacrifices some boot space for style but should offer substantially more space than the hatch version due on sale here this year.

Longer, lower, wider and slightly lighter than the wagon it replaces, the Sport Tourer is based on the latest Renault-Nissan CMF (Common Module Family) architecture — the same underpinnings used by the Nissan X-TRAIL and QASHQAI, plus the Renault Espace, Talisman and Kadjar (none of which we’ll see in Australia).

Like the hatchback, all Megane Sport Tourer will only be offered with front-wheel drive, but the French car-maker has confirmed that the sportiest GT model (pictured) will come with the 4Control four-wheel steering that boosts agility in the hatch.

Suspension-wise, the wagon carries over the hatchback’s pseudo-MacPherson strut front-end and torsion beam rear axle.

The GT model gets stiffer suspension, larger brakes and a chassis and dampers tuned by the French firm’s performance division, Renaultsport.

Inside, highlights of the Sport Tourer’s cabin will be the portrait-mounted R-Link 2 8.7-inch touch-screen that comes on more well-equipped models.

The same system also allows the driver to switch driving modes from eco, comfort, neutral, sport and perso (individual) settings for the engine, gearbox and steering.

Under the bonnet the wagon is likely to share the hatch range of engines with the carry-over 97kW/205Nm 1.2-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder available with either six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission; an 81kW/250Nm 1.5-litre turbo-diesel that is also carry-over but swaps its previous manual for a six-speed DCT, and the GT’s 151kW/280Nm 1.6-litre turbo-petrol combined with a seven-speed DCT.

A diesel-electric hybrid is set to arrive sometime next year.

With the three-door hatch and coupe-convertible version of the Megane already culled, Renault Australia has announced it is keen to add to its Megane line-up to grow sales and has said it is keen to import the Megane-based sedan that will replace the Fluence.

If that’s the case the wagon and sedan could be on sale in Australia as soon as early 2017. The new Megane hatchback, meanwhile, goes on sale here in September.

Renault Australia sold 11,500 vehicles in 2015, representing a record for the French brand since its return to Australia in 2001. Out of those cars sold, the Megane accounted for more than 2000 sales.