This is hardcore. Around me is a lattice-work of roll cage, and I'm clamped tight into my deep bucket seat by a race harness. If I wiggle hard enough, the whole car rocks - it's that light. I strain against the straps, reach out and prod the start button. The R26.R thrums into life.

At the Paris Motor Show in October, Renault has unveiled its new concept car, the Renault Ondelios. This concept car is Renault’s vision of a high-end Cross-Over. The Renault Ondelios is designed to combine a comfortable ride with respect for the environment.

Ah, now that's a lot better. This is the Megane Coupe, Renault's only-slightly-stretching-the-truth name for the three-door iteration of its new C-segment hatch. We saw the pictures of the five-door a few weeks back, and found it - well, a touch understated, let's put it that way. But the three-door looks much, much better, even in that strange shade of brown. Sorry, 'burnt orange'.