Ooh, a hot hatch! It isn’t news that us Indians have a dearth of appealing ( financially of course, not aesthetically) performance cars. We are not here to tell you that, the situation is about to change. Nope, not happening. Hence without the bells and whistles and trumpets and drum roll, allow us to present the Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy. Presented here just to rile you up into turning into zombies, biting off the neck of every other human being in the vicinity and then rushing to Renault India and demand they bring something like this to India and price it equivalently with peanuts.
Limited to a production of 500 units, the R.S. Trophy tops the Mégane range and will be sold in the markets of in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia (?).
Mégane R.S. Trophy marks the introduction of a new Sirius Yellow finish, and this body colour is available as an alternative to Glacier White, Etoilé Black and Cassiopée Grey.
With maximum power of 265hp (up 15hp), peak torque of 360Nm (+20Nm) available across a particularly broad rev-band (3,000 to 5,000rpm), a power-to-weight ratio of 5.09kg/hp and specific power of 132.5hp/litre, the car boasts an exceptional performance package. Even so, Renault Sport’s engineers have worked hard on the specification of the Mégane R.S.’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine to take driving enjoyment and response to even higher levels. Maximum turbo pressure has been uprated to 2.5 bar (up 0.2 bar), while the air intake design has been revised to take the higher pressure and higher running temperatures into account.
The R.S. Trophy will be Renault’s fastest road car with a top whack of 254kph ( up 4 kph over the Megane R.S. ), 0-100 kph of 6 seconds ( down by 0.1s ). Renault claims that it just isn’t the numbers but the Trophy is a ‘constant source of enjoyment and satisfying sensations’. Okay, we look forward to that!
Renault Sport models are offered in two choices, the ‘Sport’ Chassis or the track honed ‘Cup’ chassis which comes with a limited slip differential. The R.S. Trophy also has a new tyre fitment which contributes to the car’s handling. The design of the Formula 1-inspired Bridgestone Potenza RE050A’s asymmetric, directional tread pattern and the form of its tread blocks provide outstanding grip, stability and acoustic comfort. The R.S. Trophy is also slightly more frugal than the R.S., saving 0.2 litres/100km.
Distinctive design features of the Mégane R.S. Trophy would be its black roof, specific decals, new rear lip spoiler, 19-inch Gloss Black STEEV wheels with red piping and R.S. valve caps and numbered plaque. The LED daytime running lights are shared with the R.S. as well as the R.S. Monaco GP.
Recaro bucket seats, as expected are standard and are offered in fabric or leather trim depending on the market. The central display shows data provided by the R.S. Monitor. This innovative onboard data-logging system records performance and displays a range of mechanical parameters in real-time, a feature which owners will especially appreciate during track days. Well we have two tracks here in India, not counting the Buddh Circuit. The car will be on show at Renault Sport Day which forms part of the Renault Sport Enthusiasts Day programme at the Nürburgring, Germany, on June 17, 2011.