The driver was giving out the “V” sign while the passenger was flipping the bird.
This Renault mule was hands down the most unusual test vehicle we have seen in recent months. It was found somewhere in Spain with a modified Megane body. The compact hatchback featured fender extensions at both the front and back, as well as a possible charging port for the driver. We believe that it was a plug-in hybrid with the company’s E-Tech setup.
On closer inspection, it appears that the extensions to the front fenders are larger than the ones at the back. The caps for the charging port on driver’s side, and the gasoline tank are missing from the other side. Renault applied camouflage to the car’s front and rear. It had a very unusual dark gray finish, with primarily white door handles.
The Megane-based test mule is seen facing another vehicle in one of the images. This time, it’s based on the older-generation Clio in the more practical wagon configuration. This one also appears to have the wheel arch extensions and slightly higher ride height.
Back to the Megane. You can see that the driver was very friendly, showing the victory/peace sign the the man in front of the camera. We can’t speak for the front passenger, as he was snapped flipping the bird. We can’t help but wonder if the test mule was actually used for another purpose as the larger fenders could be an indication of a larger vehicle.
The next-generation Kadjar with its highly probable plug in hybrid powertrain is one possibility. This would be logical considering that the compact crossover has existed for over four years. A mid-cycle refresh was launched at the end 2018. It is unlikely that a revamped version will be available in the near future. This Megane-based test car was not yet a production vehicle.
We’ll soon learn more about Renault’s PHEV system when the all-new Clio supermini comes down to the electrified avenue.