Rounding off the new Megane family is the Coupe-Cabriolet that was formally introduced today ahead of its world premiere at next month’s Geneva Salon. Like its predecessor, the new Megane CC is a two door model with an electric folding top that’s mostly covered in smoked glass

The French carmaker claims the Megane CC’s transparent glazed area of 0.47 sq. metres is the largest in the segment that includes cars like the Pininfarina-styled Ford Focus CC and the Peugeot 308 CC.

The four-seater convertible version of the new Megane also gets a fixed glass wind deflector located behind the back seat headrests that is said to allow draft-free driving at speeds of up to 90km/h or 56mph.

The fully-automatic, electro-hydraulic operated two-piece glass top goes up or down in 21 seconds at the press of a button with the Megane CC’s boot capacity standing at 417 litres with the roof closed, and 211 litres when open.

Depending on the market, the new Megane Coupe-Cabriolet will be available with a choice of up to seven gasoline and diesel powertrains.

The petrol line includes a 110HP 1.6-liter unit linked to a six-speed manual, a 1.4-liter TCe turbo with 130HP matted to a six-speed manual and a 140HP 2.0-liter with a CVT.

Diesel options include the 110HP dCi matted to either a new 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission or to 6-speed manual gearbox and the 130HP dCi and 160HP dCi that both drive the front wheels through a six-speed manual.

European sales of next generation Megane Coupe-Cabriolet will begin this spring.

The new 2009 VW CC Gold Coast special edition, unveiled this week at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, is German bread-and-butter car maker VW’s latest attempt to move the brand up-market. Volkswagen cars today are known for comfortable and stylish interiors, decent performance and a fit and finish level equal to or greater than their direct competitors. The Volkswagen CC is VW’s entry into the so-called “4-door coupe” market now populated by the Mercedes-Benz CLS-class and upcoming BMW Gran Turismo, among others.

How a Passat with a snarling aero kit and a roof chop job ends up being called a coupe is beyond us. Still, the 2009 CC Gold Coast does make for one attractive performance sedan–yes, we refuse to call it a coupe.

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