These are the first official photos of the 2009 Renault Megane which will make its world debut at next month’s Paris Motor Show.

These leaked shots show the next generation five-door Renault Megane looking considerably less radical than its predecessor which went on sale in 2002.

The 2002 Renault Megane’s famous advertising campaign used the song ‘shaking that ass’ to show off the car’s unmistakeable rear, but the new model plays it safe while the front takes design cues from the mid-sized Renault Laguna.

View more images of the new Renault Megane

The Megane is one of Renault’s biggest selling cars and the new model will be going up against the likes of the Ford Focus and new VW Golf which goes on sale in January.

It will be available as both a three and five-door with a selection of petrol and diesel engines.

While it’s probable the diesels will be the biggest sellers, there will also be a hotly-anticipated Renaultsport model which is likely to go on sale 18 months after the standard Megane.

And it will have a lot to live up to with Renault saying goodbye to the current Megane with its hardcore, track-focussed R26.R which made its world debut at July’s British Motor Show.

The engine remained standard with 225bhp but Renault stripped the R26.R to reduce weight – with the car setting a new lap record for a front-wheel drive car on the Nürbürgring.

Official details and larger photos of the 2009 Renault Megane will be released on Tuesday with the car making its world debut at next month’s Paris Motor Show.

Video: Watch the Renault Megane Renaultsport R26.R in action below

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