Renault unveils even hotter Megane RS
Renault has unleashed an even hotter Megane RS with more of everything
Renault has unleashed an even hotter Megane RS with more of everything - more, power, more torque, more grip from special tyres and more handling, thanks to a standard limited-slip differential.
Only 500 examples of the Megane RS Trophy will be made, for sale in France, Britain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia, with prices starting at €35 500 (R345 000) - and Renault SA has put in an order for as many as as they can get, but it won't be more than a handful at most.
The turbo on the Megane RS' two-litre petrol engine has been tweaked to deliver 2.5 bar (up 0.2 bar) for an extra 11kW (up from 184 to 195) and 20 more Nm (up to 360Nm, available from 3000-5000rpm).
On the road that translates, according to Renault, to a 0-100 sprint in six seconds flat (an improvement of 0.1sec), a standing kilometre in 25.4sec (0.3sec better than the RS) and a top speed of 254km/h (up 4km/h) - but a revised inlet manifold has also delivered gains in efficiency. The Trophy is rated at 8.2 litres/100km (0.2 better than the RS ) and 190g/km of CO2, five less than the RS.
Special, Formula One-inspired Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres with asymmetric, directional tread patterns provide outstanding grip and stability, especially in tight conrers and in the wet.
Each Megane RS Trophy will come with a numbered plaque, a black roof, special badges, a rear spoiler, 19” gloss black alloys with red tapes and LED daytime running lights. It will be available in white, black grey and the special metallic yellow you see in the pictures.
Inside, Recaro bucket seats (fabric or leather, depending on market) are standard, as is the RS monitor, an onboard data-logging system that records performance and displays a range of mechanical parameters in real-time, a feature aimed at track days - which is what this car was built for, says Renault.
So much so that the Megane RS Trophy will be seen in public for the first time during the Renault Sport Day at the Nurburgring in Germany on June 17.