The hot hatch with more
More power is usual for a new hot hatch, but more doors? The Renault Megane RS now has five, writes Damien O’Carroll.
The Renault Megane RS has always been one of the more hilarious hot hatches on the market but it was a seriously niche model, with the last version only being available here as a three-door manual.
Which is great for enthusiasts but not so great for sales. But this time around, Renault is looking to expand its appeal, with more power, more doors and the option of a six-speed dual clutch transmission.
Is it still mad fun though?
Make me an instant expert: what do I need to know?
The Megane RS has a madly passionate following of loyal buyers who snap up every new model as soon as it hits land. Often even before that.
But it is a limited pool, so a new RS with broader appeal was always on the cards but Renault couldn’t afford to upset those diehards either.
The obvious concession is the five-door body style (something that has been available in the RS before) but the addition of an optional six-speed DCT will also massively broaden its appeal to Kiwi buyers.
But that doesn’t mean the diehard performance enthusiast has been left out, because a sixspeed manual is still available, while the tauter, more responsive Cup chassis option is still also on offer (and is seriously worth it).
The Megane RS comes to New Zealand in RS 280 form (its power output in bhp), as either the manual at $59,990 or the auto at
$62,990.
It is powered by a smooth, flexible and wonderfully powerful
205kW 1.8-litre petrol turbo engine that packs a nice, chunky 390Nm of torque.
As standard the car comes on Renault’s ‘‘Sport’’ chassis that features Ohlins shock absorbers with hydraulic compression stops (basically a ‘‘shock absorber within a shock absorber’’ that dampens the piston movement before the bump stop is reached) and electronically controlled torque distribution.
The $1900 Cup chassis option adds a Torsen mechanical limited slip differential and 10 per cent stiffer damper settings. As it should be, this is only available with the manual transmission.
Where did you drive it?
Hampton Downs, of course. Where else are you going to drive a mad hot hatch?
An acceleration and braking exercise, along with a slalom, started things out before the main course of some fast laps on the North Waikato track.
The single manual Cup chassis car on offer instantly felt sharper and more eager even on the gentle drive out to the first exercise, with a pleasingly precise shift action to the manual transmission.
It was, however, the automatic cars that dominated the acceleration and braking exercise, with the manual needing a bit more finesse to get a clean take-off – getting into second before the engine hit the rev limiter in first was also key. Starting a few metres back from the start line helped get a higher top speed as well, but was strangely disallowed . . . it’s only cheating if you get caught.
Which I did. I was fastest through the slalom though. Not bragging, just saying.
Throwing the Megane RS around the full track was an enlightening exercise that proved that Renault has firmly grasped the idea that you can have a comfortable, compliant ride AND excellently sharp and lively handling. Those trick dampers are really very good things.
The Cup chassis car was firmer but even sharper and fantastically responsive.
But it is probably the RS’ stability at high speeds that was the most impressive thing about it – nothing seemed to unsettle it, and even getting it up on to the ripple strip on purpose (yes, really) failed to bother either the standard car or the Cup chassis version.
One new addition to the RS’ box of tricks is the old 90s concept of four-wheel steer, something that is standard on the RS.
This is a strangely surreal thing as, while it definitely plays a big part in keeping the rear so sharp and settled, it lacks the obvious operation and actual feel of the rear being steered that cars like the Honda Prelude had back when the technology made its debut.
It will be very interesting to get the RS out on the open road, because its ride on track was deeply impressive, while its handling was supremely confident and effortless.
The only thing that worries me at this stage is that the angry mongrel edge to its character seems to have been banished in the relentless pursuit of improvement but then a smooth track can disguise that in a FWD car.
What’s the pick of the range?
For the enthusiast, the manual with the Cup chassis is a nobrainer.
It still has the old car’s superb sharpness and responsiveness, and is an absolute blast to chuck around a track.
But for someone with a bit of adult responsibility in their life who still wants a hot hatch, but just an easier one to live with on a daily basis, then the standard car with the auto shifter is not that far removed, was impressively comfortable and civilised (on a smooth track, at least) and was still hugely enjoyable to blast around a corner in.
Why would I buy it?
Because you are a Megane RS diehard (in which case you have most likely already ordered a manual Cup chassis car anyway), but now you would also buy it because you wanted a fast, comfortable hatch that has five doors and an automatic.
Why wouldn’t I buy it?
Because you realise that that perennial undercutter of all automotive things European – Seat – offers the more powerful (and thoroughly fantastic) Leon Cupra for $57,900.
There’s no manual though . . .