Renault lobs automatic Megane RS Cup variant

RENAULT Australia has expanded the level of choice in its Megane RS hot hatch range, introducing a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission option for its more focused Cup variant.

Priced at $51,990 plus on-road costs, the introduction of the Cup auto has also seen the rest of the range increase in price following its September launch, with increases ranging from $1000 to $3000.

The range now kicks off from $45,990 for the six-speed manual Sport and tops out with the new Cup variant.

Justifying the increase is the inclusion of a Bose audio system and Alcantara/leather upholstery as standard across the range.

Futhermore, the standard factory warranty for the Megane RS line-up has been increased from a three-year term to five years.

Opting for the Cup chassis increases the sporty driving dynamics of the Megane RS with revised springs, dampers and bump stops, and chassis stiffness up 10 per cent.

The six-speed dual-clutch auto has been developed by Renault to be able to resist the extra torque and revs of a sportscar engine, while its gear ratios and shift patterns are designed to offer maximum performance.

Three drive modes are available – Comfort, Sport and Race – while drivers can also opt to change gears themselves via the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

The dual-clutch also features a trick multi-downshift function which, as its name suggests, can drop multiple gears at once when braking by holding down the left paddle. Launch mode is also available in in Sport and Race mode.

All variants of the Megane RS employ the same powertrain: a 1.8-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder unit developing 205kW at 6000rpm and 390Nm from 2400-4800rpm, driving the front wheels and drinking 7.5 litres per 100km of fuel on the combined cycle.

Standard kit includes rear-wheel steering, an 8.7-inch portrait-style touchscreen with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, a hands-free keycard with automatic locking and welcome function, park assist and power-folding side mirrors with heating.

Safety equipment extends to hill-start assist, blind-spot warning, adaptive cruise control, distance warning, autonomous emergency braking, front, rear and side parking sensors; and a reversing camera.

Options include metallic paint for $800, while the signature Liquid Yellow and Tonic Orange tack on an extra $200, and a $1990 panoramic sunroof is available for all variants bar the manual Sport.

Megane sales have nosedived in the first quarter of 2019, with only 10 examples sold compared to 259 in 2018, representing a 96.1 per cent freefall in the year to date.

2019 Renault Megane RS pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs