Mégane Renault Sport

Renault Mégane Renault Sport
Overview
Manufacturer	Renault Sport
Production	2004-present
Body and chassis
Class	Hot hatch
Body style	3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Related	Renault Mégane
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L turbocharged I4 3.5 L V6
Transmission	6-speed manual

The Renault Mégane Renault Sport or Mégane RS is a series of hot hatch models based on the Renault Mégane, designed and built by French automaker Renault since 2004. The Mégane RS won many awards like five times in a row the "Best hot hatch" from What car? (2010-2014), "Highest placed non-supercar" in Evo’s annual Car of the Year test 2011 and "Best hot hatch" from Top Gear.^[1]

Mégane II Renault Sport

Mégane II Renault Sport 230 Renault F1

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

The Mégane II RS was available in three-door and five-door hatchback versions, both with the same engine and it was built at 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).

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 and electronic stability control.

The 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) and 18-inch alloy wheels over the base model.

All vehicles include a 6-speed transmission.

Renault Sport 225 (2004-)

The Mégane Renault Sport225 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.

The Cup Chassis option includes tire pressure monitor deletion, different 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, and the vehicle is 20 kg (44 lb) lighter (1345 kg kerb, 1,800 kg (3,968 lb) gross).

Renault Sport 225 Cup (2005-)

The Megane Renault Sport 225 Cup includes the Cup Chassis option, which adds drilled brake discs, red front and rear brake calipers and increased brake master cylinder diameter, different 18-inch wheels plus revised stiffened steering. Other features include carbon grey upholstery with silver stitching.

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

The handling improvements were made to the regular Mégane, beginning in late 2005.^[2]

Renault Sport 230 Renault F1 Team R26 (2006-)

The Megane Renault Sport 230 Renault F1 Team R26 is a version that commemorates the success of Renault in the Formula 1 World Championship with the 2005 Constructors' and Drivers' Championship titles.

The engine is rated at 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 the 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 an increased brake master cylinder diameter, plus revised stiffened steering. Other features include a 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 and a rear spoiler.

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

It is also known that the F1 drivers celebrated the success of the championships in Sandton, South Africa with a show of burning tyres etc. Renault SA sponsored the R26 models for this event and also thereafter sold.

The passenger side sun visor was signed by one of the famous race drivers who drove the car at the Sandton celebration. Renault SA also replaced the clutches a week after the showdown at Route 24 and also fitted brand new tyres before selling the cars.

Renault Sport dCi 175 (2007-)

The Megane Renault Sport dCi 175 is a version with a 2.0L (1995 cc) diesel engine. Engine is rated at 173 PS (127 kW; 171 bhp) at 3750 rpm and 360 N·m (270 lb·ft) at 2000 rpm.

The 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 and anthracite coloured door mirror housings.

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

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

R26.R

It is based on the Mégane Renault Sport 230 F1 Team R26, but it is 123 kg (271 lb) lighter. Weight reduction is achieved via the removal of the 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 and most of the soundproofing.

Other features include a carbon fibre bonnet, polycarbonate tailgate and rear side windows, Sabelt seats with carbon fibre shell and aluminium base, 6-point harnesses, a rear spoiler, optional roll cage and an 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) and stiffer lower arm bushes.

450 vehicles were made with 230 destined for the UK market. The car went on sale in October 2008 for £22,990. The car was unveiled at The 2008 British International Motor Show.^[3]

Safety

It received the first five-star EuroNCAP safety rating in the segment.^[4] 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

The Renault Sport Megane Trophy is a race version of the street vehicle, which includes a tube frame chassis with glass fibre body keeping just visual resemblance to the 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 the 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.

The Renault Sport Mégane Trophy is not road legal and was sold for a price of €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 at 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)
• 2009–2013 Mégane Trophy II: 3.5 L 24-valve V6, 360 PS (260 kW)

Mégane III Renault Sport

Mégane Renault Sport 250 (2010)

Renault Mégane R.S. (Europe)

Renault Mégane R.S. 250 Cup (Australia)

The Megane Renault Sport 250 includes a 2.0L twin-scroll turbo 4-cylinder F4Rt engine rated at 250 PS (184 kW; 247 bhp) at 5500 rpm and 340 N·m (250 lb·ft) at 3000 rpm with a 6-speed manual gearbox, Brembo front brakes, front splitter, extended sills and wheel arches, rear diffuser with central exhaust pipe, and 18-inch alloy wheels wearing 225/40R18 tyres. Aluminum pedals, a Renault Sport 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 variant contains a number of sharpened performance features including a stiffer chassis, track focused suspension, a limited slip differential and a slightly lighter gross weight. The Cup is differentiated visually with painted red brake calipers, instead of the silver calipers for the normal Sport. 18x8.25" "Ax-l" alloy wheels are fitted with wider 235/40R18 tyres, while 19x8.25" "Steev" wheels were available as an option with 235/35R19 tyres.

In Australia, the Megane RS is only sold in Cup form, though the features resemble that of the luxury model sold in Europe with the only options being front parking sensors and bi-xenon directional headlights. A Cup Trophée model was offered above that, which included a number of extra inclusions like fabric Recaro Sportster CS seats, proximity key replacing remote key, tyre pressure monitoring, upgraded stereo, grey body highlights instead of black (except for Lunar Grey), electrically folding mirrors, and the 19" Steev wheels. 18" Ax-l wheels and black body highlights were available as no-cost options. Leather Recaros, the xenons and front parking sensors were still at additional cost.

The new Mégane Renault Sport 250 was unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.^[5][6][7]

Australian special editions

2011 Monaco Grand Prix Limited Edition - 50 units, Pearl White paint, xenon headlights white interior highlights & seatbelts, satellite navigation, heated leather seats, fixed sunroof, 19" Steev alloy wheels
2012 Australian GP Edition - 50 units, Star Black paint, xenon headlights, satellite navigation, leather Recaro seats, fixed sunroof, black 19" Steev wheels with red lip

Renault Sport Mégane R.S. Trophy (2011)

In June 2011 Renault Sport revealed a limited edition 265 PS(195kW;261 hp)/360 N·m (270 lb·ft) version of the Mégane III called the Mégane R.S. Trophy. The Megane R.S. Trophy uses the same 2.0 four-cylinder as the standard 250 PS R.S. but thanks to modifications such as a new air intake and higher turbo pressure it gains an extra 15 hp, increasing the power output to 265 PS(195kW/261 hp), or 132.5 hp per liter. It reaches 0-62 mph in six seconds flat and goes on to a top speed of 254 km/h (157 mph). It is 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 the production to 500 examples. It will be sold in France, Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and in Slovenia. In France it will carry a base price of 35,500 €.^[8]

Renault Sport Mégane R.S. 265 (2012-)

Renault Sport Mégane 265 Cup Red Bull Edition coupe

The Megane R.S. adopted the updated engine from the Trophy version with 265 PS (261 HP) and offers the same "Cup" and "Sport" versions like the previous 250 PS (247 HP) model. Changes include Piano Black interior highlights and wider LED daytime running lights with 6 LEDs per side rather than the 3 LEDs found in the RS250. The 18" wheels were changed to a new design called "Tibor", while the 19" wheels carried over from the 250. Extreme Blue and Sport Yellow were dropped as colour options. In Australia, the Cup and Cup Trophée models were replaced with the Cup, Cup+ and Trophy+ with slightly more flexible specification levels.

Australian special editions

2012 Trophy 8:08 - 100 units, Pearl White or Liquid Yellow paint, xenon headlights, leather Recaro seats, black 19" Steev wheels with red lip, exterior decals, Bridgestone RE050A tyres
2012 Cup Red Bull Edition - 51 units, Star Black paint with Liquid Yellow highlights, exterior decals, cloth Recaro seats, 18" Tibor wheels, proximity key
2013 Red Bull Racing RB8 - 120 units, Dusk Blue paint with silver highlights, xenon headlights, leather Recaro seats, RS Monitor 2.0 & satellite navigation, black 19" Steev wheels with silver lip, exterior decals, Bridgestone RE050A tyres
2014 RS Sport Limited Edition - the only third generation Megane brought to Australia with Sport chassis instead of Cup chassis. 50 units, Pacific Blue paint with black highlights, Recaro seats. Compared to other Megane RS models, it is missing climate control, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlight function, limited slip differential and has narrower 225/40R18 tyres.

Renault Sport Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy (2014-)

The facelift model Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy.

In response to SEAT setting a new record for a FWD production car at the Nürburgring race track with the Leon Cupra 280 at 7:58.4 and taking the title Renault earned during 3 years with the Megane 265 Trophy, since 2011, with a time of 8:07.97, Renault developed the 275 Trophy-R to retake the title a few weeks after. With Laurent Hurgon driving, the record was reclaimed with a Nürburgring lap time of 7:54.36.^[9] The Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy has a raft of changes, starting with a little more power courtesy of the Akrapovič titanium exhaust bringing power up to 275 PS (202 kW; 271 bhp) while torque is unchanged at 360Nm. Öhlins dampers, 19" Speedline Turini wheels and Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tyres replace the KYB dampers, 19" Steev wheels and Bridgestone Potenza RE050A/Continental ContiSportContact 5P tyres used to date. The front brakes are changed to a 350mm rotor (up 10mm) while using the same calipers & rear brakes. Interior changes see the deletion of the air conditioning, stereo and back seat while the Recaro Sportser CS seats are exchanged for Recaro fixed polycarbonate buckets trimmed with leather and alcantara. The total weight saving of all the changes amounts to a 101 kg loss, bringing kerb weight down to 1280 kg, 7.5 l/100 km and 174 g/km of CO2/km.^[10][11] The Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy also beat the records of several others circuits, proved by the videos^[12] Suzuka circuit with Laurent Hurgon, Fuji International Speedway with Laurent Hurgon, Tsukuba circuit with Kazuo Shimizu.

Variants

References

External links

• UK New Mégane Renaultsport 250 page
• Clio/Mégane Renaultsport brochure
• Renault Sport new Megane Trophy