Renault Megane RS275 Trophy announced

What do you do if some Spanish upstarts take away your Nürburgring record? You start a hashtag revolution and raid the aftermarket parts bins from some of the world’s best automotive suppliers, that’s what!

The net result is this new Renault Megane RS275 Trophy. As its name suggests it has 10 more horsepower than its RS265 donor car. If you like the 21st century there’s 202kW on tap. The addition of a titanium exhaust from Akrapovic has no doubt freed both power and decibels from the 2.0 litre turbo.

From here it starts to get a bit murkier. The goal is for the RS275 Trophy to lap the Nürburgring in #UNDER8 minutes. Or more specifically, faster than the 7:58.44 lap time set by the Seat Leon Cupra 280.

To help reach that target a few “optional” extra can be ticked when ordering your RS275. They include adjustable Ohlins suspension, lightweight Speedline 19″ alloys and super sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

All through the press release we keep getting told this will be an exclusive limited edition model. However is not it stated what limited means. Limited to what they can sell, or limited to 200 cars as perhaps indicated on the photo of the model-specific door sills?

As to that lap record, we’ll have to wait until the middle of next month to see what this RS275 Trophy can do. And if you want to by one you won’t be getting your new car until at least October. It will be offered in Australia, although we suspect 2015 will be well and truly under way by the time that happens.

New Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy: Powerful and Exclusive

The tradition of exclusive, sporty Renault Sport models continues with Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy, a new limited-edition version of Mégane R.S.

• A two-litre R.S. petrol engine tuned to deliver 275hp grafted into a Cup chassis.
• A package of new ultra-sporty equipment developed in association with prestige partners such as Akrapovič (exhaust system), Öhlins (dampers) and Michelin (tyres).
• Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy will be marketed in around 20 countries on five continents, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Germany and South Africa. Order books will open on June 3 in France where the tax-paid price will be €38,000.

Following its recent restyling, the Mégane range’s sportiest version now benefits from a technical upgrade and a bespoke look. Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy is the latest in a long line of limited-editions of the model which began with the Trophy version in 2011 and continued with the Red Bull Racing RB7 (2012) and Red Bull Racing RB8 (2013) versions.

Technical upgrades for an R.S. thoroughbred with even sharper performance

Widely acclaimed both for its on-road performance and when driven round circuits, the Cup chassis with limited slip differential is a standard feature of Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy.

To allow customers to benefit more fully from the car’s dynamic qualities, Renault Sport’s engineers have worked extensively on Mégane R.S.’s powerplant to extract an extra 10 horsepower. The two-litre petrol engine consequently boasts 275hp, and peak power is reached at 5,500rpm. At the same time, maximum torque (360Nm) is available across a broad rev-band, from 3,000 to 5,000rpm.

Despite this additional power, fuel consumption and emissions have been carefully contained to stand at just 7.5 litres/100km* and 174g of CO2/km respectively.
Renault Sport and Akrapovič, the manufacturer of benchmark exhaust systems for motorcycles and performance cars, have marked their association with the standard fitment of a titanium exhaust system. In addition to benefiting from the lighter weight of titanium, Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy also features a specific, more raucous bark that is sure to appeal to those who appreciate sporty engine notes.

An equipment package with a circuit racing pedigree

Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy kicks off a partnership with the world-renowned damper manufacturer, Öhlins. The limited-edition car can be specified with optional adjustable Öhlins Road & Track dampers with steel springs. This evolution of technology employed in motorsport and on Mégane N4 allows drivers to adjust their damper settings easily and unaided.

Also available as an option for Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy for those who enjoy circuit days are MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. This ultra-high performance solution was developed jointly by Michelin and Renault Sport specifically for this new limited-edition front-wheel drive car.

A limited-edition version that packs exclusive styling, inside and out

The new livery includes Trophy branding on the Platine Grey F1-type front blade, while the personalised body sides feature Trophy decals. Platine Grey has also been selected for the chequered flag graphic at the bottom of the doors.

Meanwhile, numbered door sill guards are further evidence of the limited-edition car’s exclusivity.

Like the new signature engine note, the carbon exhaust tail pipe, too, is the work of Akrapovič.

Optional 19-inch black Speedline Turini wheels derived from those used by competition versions of Mégane can also be ordered.

Inside, Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy comes with leather and Alcantara Recaro bucket seats with visible red stitching. Red stitching has been carried over to the rear bench seat, while the head rests feature Renault Sport badging.

Other interior highlights include visible red stitching for the Alcantara steering wheel trim and hand brake bellow, as well as a Zamac gear lever knob.

Thanks to its more powerful engine, new, competition-derived technical features and assertive stance, Renault Sport’s Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy is a limited-edition car that is sure to appeal to fans of exclusive sporty cars.

And what if that wasn’t all that appealed to them?

#UNDER8… Find out more on June 16 (B.R.M time…) at www.renaultsport.com