Thinking aloud: upgrading to VXR(?)

[adam_92]

shit thats nice. iv never really looked at renaults tbh and is that how the car is or is that the concept ?

[Red AH SRI T]

I agree with Dug. I'm thinking about the new RS Megane too ;-)

and dobba, thats the production car, not the concept. WOOT!!

[cashie]

How hot does that RS Megane look!!!!!!!

[dug74]

Stand well back – it’s the latest firecracker from France! The new Renaultsport Mégane R250 is the firm’s blazing response to the growing band of hot hatches hitting the market – and it’s certainly packing enough heat to frighten its rivals.

The company systematically improved the previous generation over the course of its five-year existence – culminating in the extreme, stripped-out R26.R version, which replaced the back seats with a roll cage and the glass rear screen with a sheet of plastic. Practical it wasn’t, but the swansong of the range was one of the best drivers’ cars money could buy.

This newcomer is nowhere near as radical as that, yet the look is still very striking. It takes the Mégane Coupé as a base, and the rakish shell is transformed with performance cues such as flared wheelarches, side skirts, an F1-style front ‘blade’ and a huge central tailpipe that sits inside an aerodynamic air diffuser. The styling is completed by 18-inch alloys as standard, or buyers can specify the polished 19-inch rims finished in black and silver, as shown here.

Inside, it’s not so dramatic, although there’s a distinctly yellow theme: the rev counter, seatbelts, steering wheel and gearlever stitching, plus some of the trim on the leather seats, are all a shade of lemon. But otherwise, it’s standard Mégane Coupé fare, and can’t match the exterior’s visual impact.

However, under the bonnet, it’s definitely not short on punch. The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is a heavily revised version of the unit found in the previous car, boosted to give a mighty 247bhp and 340Nm of pulling power. It’s not the most tuneful four-cylinder in the world – despite whooshing loudly at high revs – but makes up for this with potent acceleration.

Power delivery is strong from as low as 1,500rpm, and never lets up until the needle hits the red line. The Renault sprints from 0-62mph in only 6.1 seconds, and even though all that grunt is transmitted through the front wheels, there’s no grappling with torque steer to keep the car in a straight line – it piles on the speed with remarkable composure.

The traction control has three modes, with the middle Sport setting (between on and off) dialling down the interference of the electronic safety systems without turning them off fully. Sport and off modes also sharpen throttle response and increase engine noise in the cabin, for a more intense hot hatch experience.

This standard version of the Renaultsport Mégane has clearly been built with day-to-day usability in mind, though, so the suspension is set up to be comfortable and supple on rough roads. At the same time, it enjoys corners. The ride is beautifully balanced, body roll is kept to a minimum, the steering is weighty and precise, and there’s plenty of grip available. In other words, the compromise between comfort and agility is superbly judged.

Yet buyers who want something a little bit rawer needn’t worry. A more track-focused Cup version hits showrooms at the same time as this standard car. The Cup brings stiffened suspension, a limited slip differential for less wheel spin and dispenses with some of the regular Renaultsport’s luxury kit. It also swaps the standard front seats for a pair of deep Recaro buckets – plus it weighs in at £1,000 less.

However, if you want the best of both worlds, the Cup suspension, limited-slip diff and more supportive seats can be specified on the standard Mégane 250 for an extra £2,000.

Now..if you dont like the std version...here is the Cup version.

Climbing to the top of the hot hatch league is tough – but Renault has already got the Cup wrapped up! The Renaultsport R250 Cup is an even more driver-focused version of the all-new performance Mégane, aimed at track day enthusiasts who favour thrills over comfort.

It ditches the leather sports seats in favour of a set of thin, tightly hugging Recaros. Plus, the Cup loses the standard car’s dual-zone climate control and automatic headlights – although this shaves £1,000 off the price in the process.

But the newcomer isn’t just a stripped-out version of the regular Renaultsport Mégane, because the engineers have sharpened it up, too. The suspension is 15 per cent stiffer, while thicker anti-roll bars and a limited-slip diff have been fitted. And the result is improved handling feel, reduced body roll and much faster cornering.

One feature that hasn’t been axed is the Renaultsport Dynamic Management button. Hit this, and the stability control doesn’t intervene so keenly, while throttle response is sharper, too.

The Cup sprints from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds – the same as the standard car – but the changes to the chassis make for a far more engaging, raw driving experience, even at low speeds.

Just like the excellent Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup, the Mégane has immense grip, and corners quickly with precision. The step up in driver involvement between this and the regular car is huge.

To scrub off speed safely during intense track sessions, the brake discs are grooved. Plus, the calipers are painted red – and unless you climb into the driver’s seat, that’s the only way to tell the Cup apart!

Happy Motoring
duglet

[adam_92]

all i can say is WOW!! that is pure porn.

[adam_92]

oh and whats the price difference between the standard and cup versions?

[dug74]

oh and whats the price difference between the standard and cup versions?

Cup version is 1000 pounds less....minus some luxuries.

But you can get std model with all the cup extras...and keep your luxuries for 2000 pounds more.

Happy Motoring
duglet

[adam_92]

Cup version is 1000 pounds less....minus some luxuries.

But you can get std model with all the cup extras...and keep your luxuries for 2000 pounds more.

Happy Motoring
duglet

damn u certainly know your stuff haha just read the info and realised that the cup version is more aimed towards a track car than evryday use but still very nice and what are parts like for these with it being a renault? are they expensive?

[BEK-46P]

I'm sorry. I must be the only one that thinks that Megane is ugly as a mofo.

[dug74]

damn u certainly know your stuff haha just read the info and realised that the cup version is more aimed towards a track car than evryday use but still very nice and what are parts like for these with it being a renault? are they expensive?

Just do my homework when looking to buy a new car

I was looking at R20 and the R250 Megane.....but R20 looks too bland.

Happy Motoring
duglet