Renault lobs hi-po Megane RS Trophy pricing

RENAULT Australia has announced pricing for the latest and most potent versions of its Megane RS hot hatch, with the arrival of the Trophy grades which kick off from $52,990 plus on-road costs for the six-speed manual Megane RS Trophy.

A six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is also available for $55,990, meaning the Trophy grade will command a $4000 premium over the current range-topping Cup variant.

Arriving before the end of the year, only 100 examples of the Trophy will be available in Australia.

Meanwhile, the more focused Megane RS Trophy-R is also due to arrive locally in early 2020, with the manual-only model priced at $74,990 plus on-roads, which Renault Australia says makes it one of the most affordable Trophy-Rs in the world.

When the new Megane RS variants were announced in July, Renault reported that 20 examples of the Trophy-R were headed Down Under, however that number has now been reduced to 12 units, and as such has sold out.

However, interested fans can head to Renault Australia’s website where they can place their names on a waiting list.

Furthermore, one sole example of the Megane RS Trophy-R Record – the car that set the hot hatch record at the Nurburgring earlier this year – will be coming to Australia, out of 30 units being produced worldwide.

Touted as the most high-performance production car ever put to market by Renault, the Record edition will go to auction in early 2020.

All variants are powered by the same 1.8-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine producing 221kW at 6000rpm and 400Nm, with these outputs sent exclusively to the front wheels, marking a 16kW/10Nm improvement over the RS Sport and Cup.

The Trophy features a number of hi-po enhancements such as 355mm brake discs with red Brembo brake callipers, 19-inch alloys, a Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential and a chassis derived from the Cup, which packages 25 per cent stiffer shock absorbers, 30 per cent tighter springs, 10 per cent stiffer anti-roll bars and rear-axle steering.

Meanwhile, the Trophy-R sheds 130kg by deleting the rear seats and swapping the standard exhaust system for a lighter Akrapovic titanium unit.

Furthermore, 390mm carbon-ceramic discs are fitted, as are 19-inch carbon-fibre alloys made by Geelong-based specialist Carbon Revolution, which are shod in Bridgestone Potenza S007 rubber.

Suspension has been further enhanced by a greater negative camber on the front axle, a lighter rear axle and Ohlins shock absorbers.

Aerodynamic enhancements have also been applied, namely underbody fairings, including a NACA air intake, brake ventilation and a larger rear diffuser.

Renault Australia managing director Anouk Poelmann said the interest in the Trophy-R was a testament to Australian fans’ performance appetites.

“The strong customer interest in the Megane RS Trophy-R is testament to the place this Renault Sport prepared vehicle has within the Renault family and in the hearts of car enthusiasts across Australia,” she said.

“The Renault Megane RS Trophy-R is the next chapter in Renault’s extensive history in world motorsport and brings to the Australian roads the technologies and expertise Renault Sport has developed on the racetrack.”