Renault Megane Renault Sport

At the pinnacle of the hot hatch segment, this one is hailed as the best performer in this rocket-pocket segment. They provide the trills of a supercar, at only a fraction of their price. And if you crash one, it wouldn't hurt your pocket as much either.

The Mégane Renaultsport or Mégane RS is a series of hot hatch models based on Renault Mégane, designed and built by French automaker Renault since 2004.

Mégane II Renaultsport

The RS is based on the Renault Mégane II small family car.

The Mégane RS is available in three-door and five-door hatchback versions, both with the same engine and it is built in Renault's Dieppe factory, which is where most of their special and race cars are made (like the Clio V6, 5 Turbo, Spyder and Alpine A610 / A110). The Mégane Renault Sport 225 uses double-axis strut suspension with independent steering axis at the front, with electric power steering that reduces its influence as speeds increase.

Engine and performance

The RS uses a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine that produces 225 PS (165 kW; 222 bhp), allowing the car to achieve 0–100 km/h in 6.15 s (0-60 mph in 6.0 s), with a top speed of about 240 km/h (149 mph). Ninety percent of the engine's torque is available from 2000 rpm until redline. A twin-scroll turbo minimizes turbo lag, especially when throttle is applied at over 2000 rpm. The transmission is a six-speed manual. Renault's claimed combined economy is 8.8 L/100 km (32 mpg_-imp; 27 mpg_-US), and real-world highway driving is approximately 7.0 L/100 km (40 mpg_-imp; 34 mpg_-US).

In a 2004 road test by Mexican car magazine Automóvil Panamericano, the car was proven to reach 247 bhp (184 kW; 250 PS) from its powerplant.

Equipment

The Mégane Renault Sport has a speed-limiter, which prevents the car from passing a user-determined speed. It can be disabled or recalled with a button-press, and is set in the same way as the cruise control.

The Mégane RS is equipped with leather/cloth seats, seat belts with red stitching, 17-inch alloy wheels, eight airbags and xenon headlights with headlight washers. It also has Brembo brake discs. The base Mégane Sport has Brembos on the front only, the F1 has them on all four wheels.

Other features include automatic double optic headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control.

Lux models add metallic paint, hands free Renault card, electronic folding mirrors, tire pressure monitor, electronic front and rear windows, climate control, leather upholstery, 4x15W RDS radio with CD-MP3 player and 6 speakers, front carpet mats, electronic rear view mirror, rear spoiler (petrol engine models only), 18-inch alloy wheels over base model.

All vehicles include 6-speed transmission.

Renaultsport 225 (2004-)

It includes a 2.0L turbo engine rated 225 PS (165 kW; 222 bhp) at 5500 rpm and 300 N·m (220 lb·ft) at 3000 rpm.

Cup Chassis option includes tire pressure monitor deletion, 18-inch anthracite alloy wheels with 235/40R18 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres, retuned dampers and spring rates, disconnectable ESP, anthracite coloured door mirror housings.

Sport Hatch version include Recaro front seats, and the vehicle is 20 kg (44 lb) lighter (1345 kg kerb, 1,800 kg (3,968 lb) gross).

Renaultsport 225 Cup (2005-)

It includes the Cup Chassis option, which adds drilled brake discs, Brembo front and rear red brake calipers and increased brake master cylinder diameter, revised stiffened steering. Other features include carbon grey upholstery with silver stitching.

The car is 10 kg (22 lb) lighter than 225 Sport Hatch (1335 kg kerb, 1,790 kg (3,946 lb) gross).

The handling improvement were made to regular Mégane for beginning in late 2005.

Renaultsport 230 Renault F1 Team R26 (2006-)

It is a version that commemorate the continuous success of Renault in the Formula 1 World Championship with the 2005 Constructors' and Drivers' Championship titles.

Engine is rated 230 PS (169 kW; 227 bhp) at 5500 rpm and 310 N·m (230 lb·ft) at 3000 rpm. It incorporates the improved version of Cup Chassis package, which includes 18-inch Anthracite spoked alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 2 235/40 R18 tires, Brembo front and rear red brake calipers and increased brake master cylinder diameter, revised stiffened steering. Other features include sport exhaust, Recaro seats, climate control, 4x15-watt RDS radio single CD/MP3 player with 6 speakers, Renault F1 decals, numbered plaque, limited slip differential, rear spoiler.

The vehicle weights 1,355 kg (2,987 lb) kerb, 1,820 kg (4,012 lb) gross.

Renaultsport dCi 175 (2007-)

It is a version with 2.0L (1995 cc) diesel engine. Engine is rated 173 PS (127 kW; 171 bhp) at 3750 rpm and 360 N·m (270 lb·ft) at 2000 rpm.

Cup Chassis option (available for dCi 175 Lux) includes tire pressure monitor deletion, 18-inch anthracite alloy wheels with 225/45R18 Continental SportContact 2 tires, retuned dampers and spring rates, disconnectable ESP, anthracite coloured door mirror housings.

Sport Hatch version include Recaro front seats, and the vehicle is 20 kg (44 lb) lighter (1470 kg kerb, 1,875 kg (4,134 lb) gross).

Renaultsport 230 Renault F1 Team R26.R (2009-)

R26.R

It is based on Mégane Renaultsport 230 F1 Team R26, but it is 123 kg (271 lb) lighter. Weight reduction is achieved via removal of rear seats and seat belts, passenger airbag and curtain airbags (the driver's airbag remains), climate control (air conditioning remains as standard), rear wash/wipe and heated rear window, front fog lamps, headlamp washers, radio/CD player, most of the soundproofing.

Other features include carbon fibre bonnet, polycarbonate tailgate and rear side windows, Sabelt seats with carbon fibre shell and aluminium base, 6-point harnesses, rear spoiler, optional roll cage, optional titanium exhaust.

New parts include new front springs (14 mm/100 kg), new rear springs (16.2 mm/100 kg), recalibrated shock absorber settings, grooved brake discs, new alloy wheels are fitted with a different offset increasing the track by 4 mm (0.2 in), optional Toyo Proxes R888 225/40R18 tyres (Michelin Pilot Sport 2 235/40R18 standard), stiffer lower arm bushes.

450 vehicles were made with 230 for the UK market. The car went on sale in October 2008 for £22,990. The car was unveiled in 2008 British International Motor Show.

Safety

It received the first five-star EuroNCAP safety rating in the segment. The Renault Sport models include: six airbags, electronic stability control, traction control and a key-card in the centre console to reduce knee injury. The seatbelts feature pre-tensioners that will tighten the belts immediately after impact.

Renault Sport Mégane Trophy

Eurocup Mégane Trophy is one of the events of World Series by Renault

It is a race version of the street vehicle, which includes a tube frame chassis with glass fibre body keeping just visual resemblance to usual mass-production Mégane. The RS Trophy uses the considerably modified Renault Vel Satis V4Y 3.5-litre V6 engine (which is a rebadged VQ35DE of Nissan VQ engine family) rated 330 PS (243 kW; 325 bhp) at 7000 rpm and 390 N·m (290 lb·ft) at 4500 rpm. The engine together with Sadev 6-speed sequential gearbox is placed longitudinally behind the cockpit.

Renaultsport Mégane Trophy is not road legal, but can be bought for € 120,000. It was intended to be used for competition only in the Renault Eurocup, but cars also race in events like the Belgian Touring Car Series and the Dubai 24 Hour with it.

The second generation was shown in the 2008 Paris Motor Show and was used in the Renault Eurocup starting from the 2009 season.

Engines

Road models

• 2004–present Mégane RS: 2.0 L turbocharged 16-valve I4, 225 PS (165 kW)
• 2006 Mégane RS 225 F1: 2.0 L turbocharged 16-valve I4, 225 PS (165 kW)
• 2006–present Mégane RS 230 Renault F1 Team R26: 2.0 L turbocharged 16-valve I4, 230 PS (170 kW)
• 2006–present Mégane RS dCi 175: 2.0 L turbocharged 16-valve I4, 173 PS (127 kW)
• 2009 Mégane RS R26.R: 2.0L turbocharged 16-valve I4, 230 PS (170 kW)

Race models

• 2005–2008 Mégane Trophy: 3.5 L 24-valve V6, 330 PS (240 kW)
• 2009–present Mégane Trophy II: 3.5 L 24-valve V6, 360 PS (260 kW)

Mégane III Renaultsport

Mégane Renaultsport 250 (2009-)

Renault Mégane III Renaultsport at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show

It includes a 2.0L twin-scroll turbo 4-cylinder F4Rt engine rated 250 PS (184 kW; 247 bhp) at 5500 rpm and 340 N·m (250 lb·ft) at 3000 rpm with 6-speed manual gearbox, front splitter, extended sills and wheel arches, rear diffuser with central exhaust pipe, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Aluminum pedals, a Renaultsport steering wheel with thumb grips, analog rev counter and sport seats with extra lateral support dress up the cabin. Other features include front LED daytime running lights and bi-xenon headlights.

The 250 Cup gets a stiffer suspension and a limited-slip differential.

The new Mégane Renaultsport 250 was unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

Renault Sport Mégane R.S. Trophy (2011)

In June 2011 Renault Sport revealed a limited edition 265 hp/265 lb-ft version of the Mégane III called the Mégane R.S. Trophy. The R.S. Trophy uses the same 2.0 four-cylinder as the standard 250 hp R.S. but thanks to modifications such as a new air intake it gains an extra 15 hp, pushing the power output to 265 hp, or 132.5 hp per liter. It hits 0-62 mph in six seconds flat and goes on to a top speed of 254 km/h (157 mph). It is instantly recognizable thanks to model-specific decoration such as Trophy stickers on the doors, a new spoiler and specific 19″ rims with R.S. center caps. It comes in a model-specific metallic yellow (Jaune Sirius) but is also available in more low-key colors such as white (Blanc Glacier), black (Noir Étoilé) and gray (Gris Cassiopée).

Renault will limit production to 500 examples. It will be sold in France, in the UK, in Germany, in Belgium, in Portugal, in Spain, in Italy, in Switzerland, in Austria and in Slovenia. In France it will carry a base price of 35,500 €.