• Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy-R takes home Performance Car of the Year prize in annual TopGear.com Awards
• Focused lightweight version of Mégane recently triumphed in TG24 performance car test
• Dramatic weight reduction of 130kg over standard Trophy 300, plus bespoke aerodynamic enhancements
• TopGear.com impressed by its specification, commenting on its “dizzying array of exotic components”
• Production limited to just 500 examples, with 32 right-hand drive examples for the UK
• Mégane R.S. Trophy-R holds lap records at the Nürburgring circuit in Germany, Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, and Suzuka in Japan
• On sale now with prices starting at £51,140 OTR

The Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy-R has been crowned TopGear.com Performance Car of the Year, beating 2019’s most potent sports and supercars to the title. This success follows the Mégane’s impressive showing at TopGear Magazine’s TG24 performance car test, as well as setting lap records at the fearsome Nürburgring circuit in Germany, the extremely fast Spa Francorchamps track in Belgium, and Suzuka in Japan.

During the intense 24-hour test at the Portimao circuit in Portugal, the TG24 performance car contest brought together 15 of the year’s most exciting road, race and rally cars. At the end of this marathon assessment TopGear’s team of testers placed the Renault Mégane Trophy-R in first place, ahead of models such as the McLaren 720S Track Pack, Porsche Cayman GT4 and Mercedes-AMG A45.

TopGear.com summed up the Renault’s victory: “Fitted with a dizzying array of exotic components – from CF wheels to ceramic brakes – our Performance Car of the Year is unlike any other hot hatch.”

“It takes guts to ask Porsche money for a family hatch, even if said family hatch has had an unprecedented amount of effort lavished upon it in pursuit of speed and lightness.”

Patrice Ratti, Managing Director of Renault Sport Cars commented: “We’re thrilled that the Mégane R.S. Trophy-R has been awarded the Performance Car of the Year accolade by TopGear.com. This achievement recognises the hard work of our talented Renault Sport team in creating a car that delivers motorsport focus to the road. With its lap records at famous circuits around the world, including the production car front wheel drive record at the Nürburgring, the exceptional Mégane continues to add to trophy cabinet”.

Limited to just 500 units globally, and with only 32 right-hand drive examples coming to the UK, the Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy-R is the ultimate expression of Renault Sport’s decades of hot hatch expertise. Featuring bespoke aerodynamics and lightweight carbon composite body panels, the high-performance hatchback is 130kg lighter than a Mégane R.S. Trophy 300. It is also the first car in its class to be available with powerful Brembo carbon ceramic brakes and Carbon Revolution carbon fibre wheels.

Powered by a 300PS turbocharged 1.8-litre engine with a six-speed manual gearbox, all versions of the Mégane R.S. Trophy-R feature an Akrapovič exhaust system, Brembo brakes, Öhlins dampers, Sabelt lightweight bucket seats and Bridgestone Potenza S007 tyres developed specifically for Renault Sport. The suspension is also totally revised with unique geometry and a lightweight ‘H’ pattern rear axle.

Externally the Trophy-R is identified by its unique mother-of-pearl paint finish and red highlights as well as carbon composite bonnet, carbon rear diffuser and standard Fuji Light 19’-inch alloy wheels painted red. Inside, there’s an Alcantara trimmed steering wheel, while the rear seat has been removed to save weight. Elsewhere, the 7-inch R-LINK 2 infotainment features R.S. Monitor, which allows in-depth access to performance data and telemetry.

Just 500 examples of the Megane R.S. Trophy-R will be built, of which 32 will be right-hand drive examples for the U.K. Prices start at £51,140 OTR, the vehicle is on sale now and available to order from the Renault dealer network.

For more information visit: https://www.press.renault.co.uk

ENDS

About Groupe Renault

Groupe Renault has been making cars since 1898. Today it is an international multi-brand group, selling 3.88 million vehicles in 134 countries in 2018, with 36 manufacturing sites, 12,700 points of sales and employing more than 180,000 people. To meet the major technological challenges of the future and continue its strategy of profitable growth, the Group is harnessing its international growth and the complementary fit of its five brands, Renault, Dacia, Renault Samsung Motors, Alpine and LADA, together with electric vehicles and the unique Alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi. With a new team in Formula 1, Renault sees motorsport as a vector of innovation and brand awareness.

In the UK, Groupe Renault UK has nearly 160 dealers selling the range of Renault cars, LCVs and Dacia. Groupe Renault UK sales totalled 103,607 vehicles in 2018.

For further information, please visit www.press.renault.co.uk or @RenaultUKPR or contact:

Matthew Bendall
Head of Press & Public Relations
matthew.bendall@renault.co.uk – 01923 697653 – 07814 990247

Alistair Sommerville
Press Relations Manager
alistair.sommerville@renault.co.uk – 01923 697592 – 07464 837744

Charlie Roper
Press Fleet & VIP Relations Manager
charlie.roper@renault.co.uk – 01923 697778 - 07816 641843

Linda Robinson
Internal Communications Manager
linda.robinson@renault.co.uk – 01923 697231

Laura Brighton
Senior Events Manager
laura.brighton@renault.co.uk – 01923 697272

Kathryn Nicholson
Communications Assistant
kathryn.nicholson@renault.co.uk – 01923 697296

Imogen Nichols
Communications Executive
imogen.nichols@renault.co.uk– 01923 697363