BEYOND THE HATCH
The new Renault MEGANE R.S. goes further than most cars with its comfort, drive modes and tech
THE NEW RENAULT MEGANE R.S. IS once again causing a stir in the hot hatch market. This latest car is looking to reclaim its crown in a fiercely competitive class with its downsized 276bhp 1.8-litre turbo engine and wider tracks, as well as innovations such as its Hydraulic Compression Stops and 4Control fourwheel steering system.
But any performance car fan can reel off a list of stats and compare technology, just like a game of playground top trumps. Where the new Mégane R.S. leads the way in the real world of hatchbacks is with its feel. Climb aboard, and you’ll see exactly how much thought Renault has put into the experience.
The heated Alcantara bucket seats* are shaped around you, providing the ultimate support. They’re widely adjustable and clearly designed for long-distance comfort. Meanwhile, the perforated Nappa leather sports steering wheel is just the right size, beautifully stitched and nicely detailed, with its 12 o’clock marker and subtle R.S. branding.
Behind it, all the key data is presented in clear instrument dials and displays, while the column-mounted paddles for the EDC Dual-Clutch automatic transmission^ are big enough to feel substantial in operation. They’re also made from aluminium, so you know when you’ve got hold of them.
Overall, it’s a focused experience, but although the Mégane R.S. has clearly been designed for fun, you could easily spend hours sitting in this car. Comfort and indeed safety haven’t been sacrificed.
Yet crucially, those thrills can be tuned
Although the Mégane has clearly been designed for fun, you could easily spend hours sitting in this car.
to your personal taste. Driving modes are nothing new in the world of the highperformance hatchback, but with the latest Mégane R.S., Renault has taken them to a whole new level.
Hit the R.S. Drive button on the dashboard and you can adjust the mapping of the gearbox, the steering and throttle response (on track), and the point at which the ESP cuts in through the everyday Normal setting, firmer Sport (for spirited driving) and extreme Race (for track use). The difference with this car is that there’s also a Perso mode, which lets you set things up exactly how you want them.
Such choice is usually the preserve of buyers in the class above. But it means that owners can, for example, toggle through the menus to set the steering and throttle response to Race (for track use), while leaving the gearshifts in Sport and ESP in Normal to get the most out of the car on a favourite back road on a quiet Sunday morning. And it gives the Mégane R.S. the edge over the competition in this sector.
Another advantage this car has is the feedback drivers can get. Not just regular feedback in what they feel through the seat and steering wheel, but from the performance read-outs on the dashboard.
The R.S. Monitor* provides highperformance telemetry that’s a match for any Formula One™ pitwall, with up-to-theminute data including throttle and steering angles, braking and g-force all stored in real time through the R-LINK2 infotainment screen.
But it’s not about using this information to set new records on your commute to work; the key here is that this data can help you become a better and more efficient driver, adopting technology honed by Renault on the track.
For the ultimate feedback, you can even use the R.S. Monitor Expert mode* and hook up a GoPro camera to film your driving. This footage, as well as the onboard data it’s linked to, can then be shared on your social networks, so your friends can see just how capable you and your car are, and even follow your improvements.
They say every day is a school day, and the Renault MEGANE R.S. ensures that you never stop learning. Whether it’s working out how to set the car up perfectly for your favourite road in evolving weather conditions, or taking what you’ve found out from the R.S. Monitor’s data stream and using it to hone your own skills behind the wheel, this hot hatch is constantly challenging you. And that’s why it’s one of the finest choices on the market. *Optional on the Mégane R.S. ^Buyers have choice of EDC auto and manual transmissions