Big price for ultra hot Trophy-R Megane
THE high performance Megane R.S. Trophy-R will be the most expensive model Renault has produced with prices ranging from more than £50,000 to in excess of £70,000.
The ultra hot model, which has already set records for front wheel drive cars at the Nurburgring in Germany and at Belgium’s Spa circuit, will be limited to a run of 500 globally with just 32 examples slated for the UK.
With a 0 to 60 acceleration time of 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 163mph it is powered by a 1.8-litre petrol engine boosted to 300ps.
The ‘regular’ model – some 130kg lighter than the R.S. 300 Trophy - will cost from £51,140 with two special versions also being offered at £63,140 and £72,140 for one set up in the same way as the Nurburgring record breaking car.
The prices for the Trophy-R are a premium of some £20,000 over the £31,835 cost of the regular Megane R.S. Trophy.
The Megane R.S. Trophy-R feature bespoke performance parts engineered in cooperation with key partners, including Akrapovic for the exhaust system, Brembo for the brakes, Bridgestone for the tyres, Ohlins for the shock absorbers and Sabelt for the lightweight bucket seats.
It is finished in a mother-of-pearl paint scheme with red highlights and comes with a carbon composite bonnet, carbon rear diffuser and Fuji Light 19-inch alloy wheels with Bridgestone Potenza S007 tyres developed specifically for Renault Sport.
Inside it has a stripped-out interior that features a pair of composite one-piece seats, an Alcantara covered steering wheel and seven-inch R-LINK 2 infotainment complete with an R.S. Monitor, which allows in-depth access to performance data and telemetry.
The removal of the rear seats means the addition of a special luggage retention net that’s secured to the strengthening strut between the rear suspension towers. Under the skin is a totally bespoke suspension system featuring revised geometry and adjustable dampers, bi-material front brakes and a titanium exhaust.
A Carbon Wheel pack on the £63,140 model adds four 19-inch carbon wheels each two kilos lighter than the standard rims and designed to give greater track potential.
The £72,140 Nurburgring Record Pack version brings the car up to the same specification as that driven by Renault Sport test driver Laurent Hurgon on his record-breaking laps and in addition to the carbon wheels there is also a carbon ceramic front braking system.
There is also a dynamic air intake, which replaces the R.S. Vision 4 lighting in the lower bumper and not only does this unit save 2kg in weight, it provides better cooling and breathing for the engine.
Renault says the Megane R.S. Trophy-R can additionally be specified with several R.S. Performance upgrades, including a lightweight lithium-ion battery that saves 4.5kg, six-point harnesses for the Sabelt seats and an accessory ducting pipe for the dynamic air intake that feeds straight into the engine’s intake system.
Despite the car’s breathtaking performance on the track it is officially rated at 35.3mpg with emissions of 180g/km.