Patrice RATTI, Renault Sport Cars General Manager:

“New Mégane R.S. Trophy-R completes the Mégane R.S. range with a more extreme version. It is very similar to a racing car, but is certified for the public highway. We know there are customers looking for this type of car, and not every driver should be put behind the wheel of such a car. For the engineers it’s an opportunity to concentrate their know-how to produce the fastest car possible. The Nürburgring record is a demonstration of that performance. “

At a glance

• Dramatic reduction in weight, with 130kg saved over standard Mégane R.S. Trophy
• Fastest ever front-wheel drive production car lap of the Nurburgring at 7 mins 40.1 seconds
• The Mégane R.S. Trophy-R also holds the front-wheel drive production car lap record at Belgium's Spa Francorchamps, with a time of 2 mins 28.338 seconds
• Totally redesigned suspension featuring lighter, motorsport-inspired components
• More negative camber for the front axle and standard Ohlins adjustable dampers all round
• Renault Sport developed Bridgestone S007 tyres optimised for fast road and track use
• Aerodynamic improvements with underbody fairing and carbon rear diffuser
• Powerful 300PS turbocharged 1.8-litre engine mated to six-speed manual gearbox
• Torsen limited slip differential for ultimate traction and control
• Optional carbon ceramic front brakes and carbon wheels - a first in this sector
• Larger Brembo four piston front brake calipers as standard
• Standard carbon composite bonnet with NACA duct
• Lightweight titanium Akrapovič exhaust exclusive to Trophy-R
• Sabelt composite front seats with optional six-point racing harness
• Six-speed manual only as gearbox is lighter than the dual-clutch EDC
• Limited to just 500 examples, with 30 right-hand drive models coming to the UK
• On sale now with prices starting at £51,455 OTR (June, 2020)

INTRODUCTION

Loïc FEUVRAY, Trophy-R Renault Sport Cars program manager: “New Mégane R.S. Trophy-R will interest expert customers looking for pure performance with no compromises - ready to treat themselves to something exceptional. Only 500 cars will be made, 30 of which will be fitted with the optional Carbon-Ceramic pack offering features that are ground-breaking in this segment. The high level of performance is also in the management of this project. From the beginning the product specifications are centred on clear objectives, a minimal “racing” team, agile management where decisions are taken immediately to eliminate any barriers preventing technical deployment. In the end the objectives are reached, the schedule is respected, and the result is an exceptional and profitable product.”

Over the last 15 years, the Mégane-based Renault Sport versions have set the hot hatch standard for ultimate performance and driving thrills. In that time the most radical versions of the MÉGANE R.S. have successively beaten the front-wheel drive production car lap record for the hugely challenging Nürburgring, a circuit that’s recognised around the world as the ultimate proving ground for a car’s performance.

The New MÉGANE R.S. TROPHY-R is no exception, setting a new record of 7 minutes 40.1 seconds around the tortuous track famously known as the ‘Green Hell’. Yet unlike competitors that simply focus on delivering ever higher power outputs, the engineers at Renault Sport have concentrated on three distinct performance pillars: weight reduction, the maximisation of aerodynamic efficiency and more radical suspension systems. This approach is a Renault Sport trademark, an approach that priorities speed through the corners rather than outright performance in a straight line. 

Featuring an impressive weight reduction of 130kg, a totally redesigned suspension set-up and modified aerodynamics the New MÉGANE R.S. TROPHY-R is the most extreme Renault Sport model yet. It also boasts some innovations that are normally the preserve of high end supercars, such as the optional carbon ceramic brakes and carbon fibre wheels. And in its pursuit of undiluted driving pleasure it removes items such as the rear seats, while the composite Sabelt seats can be ordered with six-point racing harnesses - this is a car that puts the driver front and centre.

Identified by its unique mother-of-pearl paint finish and red highlights (front blade, side stripes, double lateral diamonds graphics and the spokes of the Fuji-Light wheels), its TROPHY-R monograms, its carbon components in the bonnet and rear diffuse and its "shark fin" aerial. Inside, the racing atmosphere is underlined by the Alcantara® racing seats, a material that also adorns the racing steering wheel and handbrake lever. A numbered plaque on the door sill emphasizes the exclusiveness of this limited production model.

Of course, New MÉGANE R.S. TROPHY-R is also a car developed using Renault Sport’s extensive motorsport expertise. As a result, the New MÉGANE R.S. TROPHY-R is a hot hatch ready for the racetrack. With greater traction, speed through corners and braking endurance, it is capable of bringing intense pleasure to expert drivers that want to make the most of its incredible potential. Such is the level of the MEGANE R.S. TROPHY-R that it can easily compete with models that feature four-wheel drive and well in excess of 300 bhp.

This exceptional car will be made available as a limited series of just 500 numbered vehicles globally.