The world may appear to be a surreal place to automotive fans at giant, particularly while you’re behind the wheel of a automotive just like the Renault Megane R.S. Ultime – the final in a line of a number of the most revered scorching hatches ever constructed by the famed Renault Sport division.
In days passed by on three-way comparisons within the difficult Victorian excessive nation the place I favoured the Megane RS280 and its cat-like four-wheel steering over the likes of extra highly effective rivals just like the Ford Focus RS and Honda Civic Sort R, a minimum of within the damp situations that prevailed on that exact event.
Sadly, it’s all come to one thing of a ceremonial finish, as Alpine as soon as once more picks up the reins amidst its transition into an all-electric efficiency car division.
There’s a bunch of electrical automobiles on the best way together with a high-performance model of the Renault 5 E-Tech, dubbed A290 (as per the idea), which is predicted to function the powertrain from the Megane E-Tech and appears particular from the pics we’ve seen to this point.
However the brand new EV model of Alpine doesn’t formally launch till 2025, and we’re undecided when automobiles will lob in Australia. Within the meantime there’s simply 1976 examples of the Megane R.S. Ultime out there worldwide, in recognition of the yr Renault Sport was first established.
Of that manufacturing run, solely 40 have been earmarked for Aussie patrons who gained’t thoughts paying a premium for the privilege of proudly owning the crowning glory of one of the vital celebrated B-road heroes of the final twenty years. On the time of publish, simply 4 are nonetheless out there.
You’re unlikely to overlook it on the highway, particularly in our tester’s Liquid Yellow paint job. There are three different equally satisfying colors out there, together with a couple of different distinctive additions to the same old R.S. system.
The Megane R.S. has at all times been a formidable looker with its beefed-up guards, black wheels and F1-style entrance splitter, once more in gloss black. However the R.S. Ultime makes much more of an announcement.
There are the matte black ‘damaged’ stripes adorning the roof, bonnet, rear bumper, doorways and all 4 guards. The yr Renault Sport was established – 1976 – may be very faintly inscribed within the stripes on the motive force’s facet, too.
The black-accent theme continues with the logos, door handles, window frames, wheels, entrance and rear bumper vents, in addition to the entrance bumper’s System 1 blade. It seems particular, in addition to purposeful.
You additionally get a couple of further goodies above and past the usual R.S.Trophy, together with light-weight wheels, particular Bridgestone tyres, Recaro buckets in Alcantara, and a construct plate.
How does the Renault Megane R.S. Trophy fare vs its opponents?
View an in depth breakdown of the Renault Megane R.S. Trophy in opposition to equally sized autos.
Renault
Megane R.S. Trophy
How a lot does the Renault Megane value?
Simply 40 examples of the Renault Megane R.S. Ultime have been allotted for Australia, priced from $67,500 earlier than on-road prices for the six-speed handbook transmission and $70,500 earlier than on-roads for the six-speed dual-clutch automated – a $4500 premium over the common R.S. Trophy.
On the time of publish, simply 4 are left with sellers. Whereas icon standing and real limited-edition rarity rely for many, competitors within the hot-hatch area has additionally produced some distinctive rivals with inexpensive worth tags.
Most notable is the Honda Civic Sort R solely with handbook transmission from $72,600 drive away, in addition to various variants of the full-fat Hyundai i30 N (begins from $46,200 for the handbook), however particularly the i30 Sedan N with its extra dynamic chassis.
Toyota has its nice wanting GR Corolla with AWD from $64,190 plus on-roads and the smaller GR Yaris priced at $51,390 excluding on-roads.
Renault Megane R.S. Ultime pricing:
- Renault Megane R.S. Ultime MT: $67,500
- Renault Megane R.S. Ultime EDC: $70,500
Costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the Renault Megane like on the within?
One look at these fully-wrapped Alcantara Recaro buckets and you’re in a hardcore scorching hatch from Renault Sport.
These pews have been designed with a number of the most aggressive bolsters you’re prone to discover in a avenue automotive earlier than going to a full-tilt racing seat.
They’re additionally completed with twin-stitching in crimson/white, whereas ‘R.S.’ and ‘Recaro’ are fantastically embroidered into the seat backs in Vivid Pink.
It’s the identical story within the second row – correctly bolstered outer seats in the identical comfortable Alcantara cloth with double- twin-stitching in crimson, in addition to the seat belts all spherical.
There’s the compulsory Liquid Yellow accents tastefully displayed in strips on the entrance door playing cards and centre console for heritage impact.
I’m not likely a fan of the faux-carbon fibre vinyl on the door trims – extra Alcantara would have appeared extra the half for this closing version.
At eye stage, the plastics are first rate, however dip under and also you’ll discover the cheaper pockmarked selection that extends to the again of the entrance buckets. Once more, it’s the final of the lineage and Renault is asking prime greenback for the Ultime – and it’s these smaller trim bits that may irk some prospects.
Nonetheless, all of the essential bits are completed proper. The pedal set is polished stainless with loads of rubber dots for grip, and the peerlessly sized steering wheel rim together Alcantara/leather-based is properly tactile and options the Renault Sport brand in the identical Liquid Yellow.
The column-mounted paddle shifters are an odd form and actually solely prolong upwards from the centre spokes, making handbook shifting barely awkward at instances. Maybe that’s simply me being idiosyncratic however I discovered it cumbersome as a rule, given I like to make use of the handbook shift choice.
Whereas the chunky metallic transmission selector is throwback from Megane’s earliest days, I genuinely benefit from the intuitive nature of grabbing the stick, if you’ll, as old-school as that could be as of late with the worldwide EV shift.
Renault has completed its finest to maintain up with its rivals on the know-how entrance, with a digital driver’s show and a portrait-style infotainment touchscreen that meets most wants with good readability, color, responsiveness, and fortunately Apple CarPlay.
There are additionally loads of USB-A ports for each seat rows, together with rear air vents, cupholders, armrest (in Alcantara) and enough rear legroom for outer-seat passengers. Sadly, the middle-seat passenger within the rear is robbed of each under-thigh assist and foot house.
For youths, there are two ISOFIX factors for the outboard seats, in addition to three top-tether anchor factors.
Within the boot you’ll discover a commendable 434 litres of house because of its vital flooring depth. There’s no spare tyre or house saver, only a bottle of goo and a small electrical compressor.
The rear seats are 60/40 cut up fold however folding each side nonetheless go away a big lip and so they don’t precisely fold flat for simple loading of longer gear.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
It’s the identical powertrain because the Megane R.S. Trophy – a turbocharged 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 221kW of energy at 6000rpm, and 420Nm (400Nm for the handbook) peaking at 3200rpm.
Each dual-clutch and handbook variations of the Ultime use six-speed transmissions, and declare the identical 0-100km/h dash time of 5.7 seconds because of the differing kerb weights between the 2 – 1433kg for the auto and 1420kg for the stick shift.
The twin-clutch model additionally advantages from digital launch management.
It’s strong grunt in contrast with the likes of rivals such because the Hyundai i30 N (hatch or sedan), and its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot making 206kW/392Nm.
There’s a 50L gas tank requiring 98 RON, and the heavier dual-clutch variant is barely thirstier utilizing 8.3L/100km, whereas the lighter handbook claims 8.0L/100km.
Drive it for pure pleasure although, and gas consumption will rise sharply to 12L/100km plus at instances. And given its slightly quick gearing and six-speed transmission, it may be much less economical than some on the freeway – all of this relies by yourself driving model.
Beneath the Megane R.S. Ultime is similar closely honed ‘Cup’ chassis from the Trophy, in addition to Renault Sport’s four-wheel steering system and a Torsen limited-slip entrance differential for optimum adhesion with these sticky Bridgestone tyres.
There’s good stopping energy, courtesy of beefed-up brakes by Brembo with slotted rotors. From its earliest iteration, the Megane R.S. has been outfitted with excellent stoppers.
How does the Renault Megane drive?
No query it is a scorching hatch that delivers a great deal of real suggestions from the very second you sink into these fairly excellent Recaro buckets that wrap you up good and tight – you gained’t transfer a millimetre in essentially the most demanding of corners.
When you’re on the transfer, there’s loads of poke to excite regardless of being down on displacement in contrast with its bigger 2.0-litre rivals. Regardless, the Megane R.S. Ultime nonetheless delivers strong punch all through the whole rev vary.
There’s loads of cabin noise from the engine and short-geared DCT transmission, but it surely’s that very same visceral expertise that makes this particular variant such a hoot to pilot.
Fact is, it’s not as fast as its extra fashionable scorching hatch rivals, a minimum of out of the blocks, but it surely’s within the dealing with division the place this sharply tuned Renault delivers its knockout punch.
When Renault first launched its four-wheel steering on Megane R.S. variants there have been some amongst the press who didn’t heat to it – sighting irregularities in steering calibration and really feel.
However, hardcore runs in Victoria’s excessive nation revealed a cat-like potential to out hustle the easiest scorching hatches. Nothing has modified in that regard.
It’s a agency trip with the stiffened Cup suspension setup however on the plus facet, it feels correctly planted and in a position to make very fast directional adjustments thanks partly to that very same four-wheel steering which additionally requires minimal steering enter from the motive force – even within the hairpins.
Grip ranges are actually fairly uncanny, irrespective of how enthusiastic you could be. At instances I discovered myself making an attempt to catch it out. Not an opportunity.
Add to that the pops and crackles from its diminutive four-pot (in Sport in fact) which give it a decently loud voice, together with critical mid-range go, and also you’ve obtained one of many all-time nice scorching hatch experiences that may encourage the seek for as many bends as you’ll be able to muster in your favorite less-trafficked highway.
What do you get?
Megane R.S. Trophy highlights:
- 4Control four-wheel steering
- Brembo high-performance brakes
- Torsen limited-slip differential
- Lively valve exhaust system
- 9.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Satellite tv for pc Navigation
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- Bose encompass sound system
- Keyless entry, begin with ‘stroll away’ locking
- Automated LED headlights
- Rain-sensing wipers
R.S. Ultime provides:
- 19-inch Fuji black light-weight alloy wheels
- Bridgestone S007 Tyres
- Recaro Alcantara entrance bucket seats
- Numbered construct plate
- Daring matte black stripes
- Roof
- Bonnet
- Rear bumper
- Doorways
- Guards
- ‘1976’ decals
- Black exterior accents
Colors:
- Liquid Yellow
- Orange Tonic
- Diamond Black
- Pearl White
Is the Renault Megane secure?
The Megane R.S. is unrated by ANCAP. Again in 2015, nonetheless, Euro NCAP gave the usual Megane 5 stars.
Commonplace security options embody:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-departure warning
- Entrance, front-side and curtain airbags
How a lot does the Renault Megane value to run?
The R.S. Ultime is backed by Renault’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
There’s additionally 5 years of roadside help, and 5 years of capped-price servicing totalling $2645.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Renault Megane
In years to come back, it’s probably any iteration of the Renault Megane R.S. will achieve collectable or must-have standing, particularly because the world fast-tracks in direction of an all-electric future.
However the R.S. Ultime might be simply that rather more particular – decreed by its restricted construct numbers alone, by no means thoughts the light-weight wheels, sticky tyres and people epic Alcantara-wrapped Recaro pews.
Even in its closing iteration, the Renault Megane R.S. remains to be a automotive that may put a broad smile on the face of essentially the most discerning fanatic, and for that it deserves Corridor of Fame standing.
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