It's sad - a tragedy. The Renault Megane will lose the junk in its trunk. This 2009 model Megane is part of Renault's (bland) new line-up, and even though there has been an overload of small car stories lately, this one is quite important, because it signifies a manufacturer turning up its nose at adventurous design.

The Megane II was a revelation when it first came out - a talking point at dinner parties, even. I mean, who could resist a car with a big sexy butt like that? Ironically, this "bootylicious" car couldn't really fit much in its boot (its boot volume was almost a half that of some of its competitors), but that's not the point. The Megane was a roaring success in Europe (nowhere else, unfortunately), and it gave other French manufacturers the confidence to release far more individually styled cars than they ever did in the 90s. Citroen had the C4 and C6, Peugeot had its gaping-mouthed 407, and more recently, the 207 and 308.

But the new face of Renault is going to destroy all the hard work the cars like the Megane II did to make Renaults look innovative and advanced. It looks boring. As boring as the Golf. And if you don't agree with that, then it must look disturbing to you, then. It does look quite disturbing at the front - it has the smile of an axe-murderer with no teeth.

Thank heavens there will be a Renault Megane Sport, sometime in the near future. And I have a concept from earlier this year that is meant to hint at what the Megane Sport could look like. I don't honestly expect it to have bizarre double-gullwing doors and virtual side mirrors, but if it at least keeps that fantastic rear end design, then maybe I won't lament the liposuction Renault performed on the regular Megane. It's just a shame, that's all.

NEWS: 2009 Megane - "bootylicious" no more