Mégane Renault Sport
Encyclopedia
The Mégane Renaultsport or Mégane RS is a series of hot hatch
models based on Renault Mégane
, designed and built by French automaker Renault
since 2004.
small family car.
The Mégane RS is available in three-door and five-door hatchback
versions, both with the same engine and it is built in Renault's Dieppe factory, which is where most of their special and race cars are made (like the Clio V6, 5 Turbo, Spyder and Alpine A610 / A110). The Mégane Renault Sport 225 uses double-axis strut suspension with independent steering axis at the front, with electric power steering that reduces its influence as speeds increase.
that produces 225 PS, allowing the car to achieve 0–100 km/h in 6.5 s (0-60 mph in 6.3 s), with a top speed of about 240 km/h (149 mph). Ninety percent of the engine's torque is available from 2000 rpm until redline. A twin-scroll turbo minimizes turbo lag, especially when throttle is applied at over 2000 rpm. The transmission is a six-speed manual. Renault's claimed combined economy is 8.8 L/100 km, and real-world highway driving is approximately 7 L/100 km.
In a 2004 road test by Mexican
car magazine Automóvil Panamericano
, the car was proven to reach 247 bhp from its powerplant.
The Mégane RS is equipped with leather/cloth seats, seat belts with red stitching, 17-inch alloy wheels, eight airbags and xenon headlights with headlight washers. It also has Brembo
brake discs. The base Mégane Sport has Brembos on the front only, the F1 has them on all four wheels.
Other features include automatic double optic headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control.
Lux models add metallic paint, hands free Renault card, electronic folding mirrors, tire pressure monitor, electronic front and rear windows, climate control, leather upholstery, 4x15W RDS radio with CD-MP3 player and 6 speakers, front carpet mats, electronic rear view mirror, rear spoiler (petrol engine models only), 18-inch alloy wheels over base model.
All vehicles include 6-speed transmission.
Cup Chassis option includes tire pressure monitor deletion, 18-inch anthracite alloy wheels with 235/40R18 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres, retuned dampers and spring rates, disconnectable ESP, anthracite coloured door mirror housings.
Sport Hatch version include Recaro front seats, and the vehicle is 20 kg (44 lb) lighter (1345 kg kerb, 1800 kg (3,968 lb) gross).
The car is 10 kg (22 lb) lighter than 225 Sport Hatch (1335 kg kerb, 1790 kg (3,946 lb) gross).
The handling improvement were made to regular Mégane for beginning in late 2005.
Engine is rated 230 PS at 5500 rpm and 310 newton metre at 3000 rpm. It incorporates the improved version of Cup Chassis package, which includes 18-inch Anthracite spoked alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 2 235/40 R18 tires, Brembo front and rear red brake calipers and increased brake master cylinder diameter, revised stiffened steering. Other features include sport exhaust, Recaro seats, climate control, 4x15-watt RDS radio single CD/MP3 player with 6 speakers, Renault F1 decals, numbered plaque, limited slip differential, rear spoiler.
The vehicle weights 1355 kg (2,987 lb) kerb, 1820 kg (4,012 lb) gross.
Cup Chassis option (available for dCi 175 Lux) includes tire pressure monitor deletion, 18-inch anthracite alloy wheels with 225/45R18 Continental SportContact 2 tires, retuned dampers and spring rates, disconnectable ESP, anthracite coloured door mirror housings.
Sport Hatch version include Recaro front seats, and the vehicle is 20 kg (44 lb) lighter (1470 kg kerb, 1875 kg (4,134 lb) gross).
Other features include carbon fibre bonnet, polycarbonate tailgate and rear side windows, Sabelt seats with carbon fibre shell and aluminium base, 6-point harnesses, rear spoiler, optional roll cage, optional titanium exhaust.
New parts include new front springs (14 mm/100 kg), new rear springs (16.2 mm/100 kg),
recalibrated shock absorber settings, grooved brake discs, new alloy wheels are fitted with a different offset increasing the track by 4 mm (0.15748031496063 in), optional Toyo Proxes R888 225/40R18 tyres (Michelin Pilot Sport 2 235/40R18 standard), stiffer lower arm bushes.
450 vehicles were made with 230 for the UK market. The car went on sale in October 2008 for £22,990. The car was unveiled in 2008 British International Motor Show.
safety rating in the segment. The Renault Sport models include: six airbags, electronic stability control, traction control and a key-card in the centre console to reduce knee injury. The seatbelts feature pre-tensioners that will tighten the belts immediately after impact.
It is a race version of the street vehicle, which includes a tube frame chassis with glass fibre body keeping just visual resemblance to usual mass-production Mégane. The RS Trophy uses the considerably modified Renault Vel Satis
V4Y 3.5-litre V6 engine (which is a rebadged VQ35DE of Nissan VQ engine
family) rated 330 PS at 7000 rpm and 390 newton metre at 4500 rpm. The engine together with Sadev 6-speed sequential gearbox is placed longitudinally behind the cockpit.
Renaultsport Mégane Trophy is not road legal, but can be bought for € 120,000. It was intended to be used for competition only in the Renault Eurocup
, but cars also race in events like the Belgian Touring Car Series
and the Toyo Tires 24H Dubai with it.
The second generation was shown in the 2008 Paris Motor Show and was used in the Renault Eurocup starting from the 2009 season.
Other features include front LED daytime running lights, 18-inch aluminium alloy rims, central exhaust tailpipe and rear diffuser.
250 Cup gets a stiffer suspension and a limited-slip differential.
The new Mégane Renaultsport 250 was unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.
Renault will limit production to 500 examples. It will be sold in France, in the UK, in Germany, in Belgium, in Portugal, in Spain, in Italy, in Switzerland, in Austria and in Slovenia. In France it will carry a base price of 35,500 €.
Hot hatch
Hot hatch was originally an informal automotive industry term, shortened from hot hatchback, initially coined by the British motoring press in 1984, for a high-performance derivative of a car body style consisting of a three- or five-door hatchback automobile.Vehicles of this class are based on...
models based on Renault Mégane
Renault Mégane
The Renault Mégane is a small family car produced by the French automaker Renault since 1995. It is offered in 3- and 5-door hatchback, saloon, coupé, convertible and estate bodystyles...
, designed and built by French automaker Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
since 2004.
Mégane II Renaultsport
The RS is based on the Renault Mégane IIRenault Mégane
The Renault Mégane is a small family car produced by the French automaker Renault since 1995. It is offered in 3- and 5-door hatchback, saloon, coupé, convertible and estate bodystyles...
small family car.
The Mégane RS is available in three-door and five-door hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
versions, both with the same engine and it is built in Renault's Dieppe factory, which is where most of their special and race cars are made (like the Clio V6, 5 Turbo, Spyder and Alpine A610 / A110). The Mégane Renault Sport 225 uses double-axis strut suspension with independent steering axis at the front, with electric power steering that reduces its influence as speeds increase.
Engine and performance
The RS uses a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol enginePetrol engine
A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels....
that produces 225 PS, allowing the car to achieve 0–100 km/h in 6.5 s (0-60 mph in 6.3 s), with a top speed of about 240 km/h (149 mph). Ninety percent of the engine's torque is available from 2000 rpm until redline. A twin-scroll turbo minimizes turbo lag, especially when throttle is applied at over 2000 rpm. The transmission is a six-speed manual. Renault's claimed combined economy is 8.8 L/100 km, and real-world highway driving is approximately 7 L/100 km.
In a 2004 road test by Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
car magazine Automóvil Panamericano
Automóvil Panamericano
Automóvil Panamericano or simply Automóvil is a Mexican automotive enthusiast magazine first published on 1995...
, the car was proven to reach 247 bhp from its powerplant.
Equipment
The Mégane Renault Sport has a speed-limiter, which prevents the car from passing a user-determined speed. It can be disabled or recalled with a button-press, and is set in the same way as the cruise control.The Mégane RS is equipped with leather/cloth seats, seat belts with red stitching, 17-inch alloy wheels, eight airbags and xenon headlights with headlight washers. It also has Brembo
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is a manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. It was established in Bergamo, Italy in 1961. Soon after the company was formed, it specialised in disc brakes, which were exclusively imported from the United Kingdom at the time...
brake discs. The base Mégane Sport has Brembos on the front only, the F1 has them on all four wheels.
Other features include automatic double optic headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control.
Lux models add metallic paint, hands free Renault card, electronic folding mirrors, tire pressure monitor, electronic front and rear windows, climate control, leather upholstery, 4x15W RDS radio with CD-MP3 player and 6 speakers, front carpet mats, electronic rear view mirror, rear spoiler (petrol engine models only), 18-inch alloy wheels over base model.
All vehicles include 6-speed transmission.
Renaultsport 225 (2004-)
It includes a 2.0L turbo engine rated 225 PS at 5500 rpm and 300 newton metre at 3000 rpm.Cup Chassis option includes tire pressure monitor deletion, 18-inch anthracite alloy wheels with 235/40R18 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres, retuned dampers and spring rates, disconnectable ESP, anthracite coloured door mirror housings.
Sport Hatch version include Recaro front seats, and the vehicle is 20 kg (44 lb) lighter (1345 kg kerb, 1800 kg (3,968 lb) gross).
Renaultsport 225 Cup (2005-)
It includes the Cup Chassis option, which adds drilled brake discs, Brembo front and rear red brake calipers and increased brake master cylinder diameter, revised stiffened steering. Other features include carbon grey upholstery with silver stitching.The car is 10 kg (22 lb) lighter than 225 Sport Hatch (1335 kg kerb, 1790 kg (3,946 lb) gross).
The handling improvement were made to regular Mégane for beginning in late 2005.
Renaultsport 230 Renault F1 Team R26 (2006-)
It is a version that commemorate the continuous success of Renault in the Formula 1 World Championship with the 2005 Constructors' and Drivers' Championship titles.Engine is rated 230 PS at 5500 rpm and 310 newton metre at 3000 rpm. It incorporates the improved version of Cup Chassis package, which includes 18-inch Anthracite spoked alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 2 235/40 R18 tires, Brembo front and rear red brake calipers and increased brake master cylinder diameter, revised stiffened steering. Other features include sport exhaust, Recaro seats, climate control, 4x15-watt RDS radio single CD/MP3 player with 6 speakers, Renault F1 decals, numbered plaque, limited slip differential, rear spoiler.
The vehicle weights 1355 kg (2,987 lb) kerb, 1820 kg (4,012 lb) gross.
Renaultsport dCi 175 (2007-)
It is a version with 2.0L (1995 cc) diesel engine. Engine is rated 173 PS at 3750 rpm and 360 newton metre at 2000 rpm.Cup Chassis option (available for dCi 175 Lux) includes tire pressure monitor deletion, 18-inch anthracite alloy wheels with 225/45R18 Continental SportContact 2 tires, retuned dampers and spring rates, disconnectable ESP, anthracite coloured door mirror housings.
Sport Hatch version include Recaro front seats, and the vehicle is 20 kg (44 lb) lighter (1470 kg kerb, 1875 kg (4,134 lb) gross).
Renaultsport 230 Renault F1 Team R26.R (2009-)
It is based on Mégane Renaultsport 230 F1 Team R26, but it is 123 kg (271 lb) lighter. Weight reduction is achieved via removal of rear seats and seat belts, passenger airbag and curtain airbags (the driver's airbag remains), climate control (air conditioning remains as standard), rear wash/wipe and heated rear window, front fog lamps, headlamp washers, radio/CD player, most of the soundproofing.Other features include carbon fibre bonnet, polycarbonate tailgate and rear side windows, Sabelt seats with carbon fibre shell and aluminium base, 6-point harnesses, rear spoiler, optional roll cage, optional titanium exhaust.
New parts include new front springs (14 mm/100 kg), new rear springs (16.2 mm/100 kg),
recalibrated shock absorber settings, grooved brake discs, new alloy wheels are fitted with a different offset increasing the track by 4 mm (0.15748031496063 in), optional Toyo Proxes R888 225/40R18 tyres (Michelin Pilot Sport 2 235/40R18 standard), stiffer lower arm bushes.
450 vehicles were made with 230 for the UK market. The car went on sale in October 2008 for £22,990. The car was unveiled in 2008 British International Motor Show.
Safety
It received the first five-star EuroNCAPEuroNCAP
The European New Car Assessment Programme is a European car safety performance assessment programme based in Brussels and founded in 1997 by the Transport Research Laboratory for the UK Department for Transport and backed by several European governments.-History and activities:Euro NCAP is a...
safety rating in the segment. The Renault Sport models include: six airbags, electronic stability control, traction control and a key-card in the centre console to reduce knee injury. The seatbelts feature pre-tensioners that will tighten the belts immediately after impact.
Renault Sport Mégane Trophy
Renault Vel Satis
The Renault Vel Satis was an executive car produced by the French manufacturer Renault, launched at the 2001 Geneva Motorshow to replace the already-discontinued Safrane...
V4Y 3.5-litre V6 engine (which is a rebadged VQ35DE of Nissan VQ engine
Nissan VQ engine
The VQ is a V6 piston engine produced by Nissan with displacements varying from 2.0 L to 4.0 L. It is an aluminum block DOHC 4-valve design with aluminum heads. It is fitted with Nissan's EGI/ECCS sequential multi-point fuel injection system...
family) rated 330 PS at 7000 rpm and 390 newton metre at 4500 rpm. The engine together with Sadev 6-speed sequential gearbox is placed longitudinally behind the cockpit.
Renaultsport Mégane Trophy is not road legal, but can be bought for € 120,000. It was intended to be used for competition only in the Renault Eurocup
Renault Eurocup
The Renault Eurocup Mégane Trophy is a one-make racing series created and managed by Renault Sport. The series has raced with the Renault Mégane Renault Sport since 2005 as part of the World Series by Renault. The Renault Eurocup has run with various models under differing names since...
, but cars also race in events like the Belgian Touring Car Series
Belgian Touring Car Series
The Belgian Touring Car Series is an endurance touring car racing series based in Belgium. It is organised by Speedworld and sanctioned by the Royal Automobile Club Belgium.-Race format:...
and the Toyo Tires 24H Dubai with it.
The second generation was shown in the 2008 Paris Motor Show and was used in the Renault Eurocup starting from the 2009 season.
Road models
- 2004–present Mégane RS: 2.0 L turbocharged 16-valve I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 225 PS - 2006 Mégane RS 225 F1: 2.0 L turbocharged 16-valve I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 225 PS - 2006–present Mégane RS 230 Renault F1 Team R26: 2.0 L turbocharged 16-valve I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 230 PS - 2006–present Mégane RS dCi 175: 2.0 L turbocharged 16-valve I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 173 PS - 2009 Mégane RS R26.R: 2.0L turbocharged 16-valve I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 230 PS
Race models
- 2005–2008 Mégane Trophy: 3.5 L 24-valve V6, 330 PS
- 2009–present Mégane Trophy II: 3.5 L 24-valve V6, 360 PS
Mégane Renaultsport 250 (2009-)
It includes a 2.0L twin-scroll turbo 4-cylinder engine rated 250 PS at 5500 rpm and 340 newton metre at 3000 rpm with 6-speed manual gearbox, front splitter, extended sills and wheel arches, rear diffuser with central exhaust pipe, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Aluminum pedals, a R enaultsport steering wheel with thumb grips, analog rev counter and sport seats with extra lateral support dress up the cabin.Other features include front LED daytime running lights, 18-inch aluminium alloy rims, central exhaust tailpipe and rear diffuser.
250 Cup gets a stiffer suspension and a limited-slip differential.
The new Mégane Renaultsport 250 was unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.
Renault Sport Mégane R.S. Trophy (2011)
In June of 2011 Renault Sport revealed a limited edition 265hp/265lb-ft version of the Mégane III called the Mégane R.S. Trophy. The R.S. Trophy uses the same 2.0 four-cylinder as the standard 250hp R.S. but thanks to modifications such as a new air intake it gains an extra 15hp, pushing the power output to 265hp, or 132.5hp per liter. It hits 0-62mph in six seconds flat and goes on to a top speed of 254 km/h (157 mph). It is instantly recognizable thanks to model-specific decoration such as Trophy stickers on the doors, a new spoiler and specific 19″ rims with R.S. center caps. It comes in a model-specific metallic yellow (Jaune Sirius) but is also available in more low-key colors such as white (Blanc Glacier), black (Noir Étoilé) and gray (Gris Cassiopée).Renault will limit production to 500 examples. It will be sold in France, in the UK, in Germany, in Belgium, in Portugal, in Spain, in Italy, in Switzerland, in Austria and in Slovenia. In France it will carry a base price of 35,500 €.
External links
- UK New Mégane Renaultsport 250 page
- http://s7ondemand4.scene7.com/is-viewers352A/flash/genericbrochure.swf?serverUrl=http://s7ondemand4.scene7.com/is/image/&contentRoot=http://s7ondemand4.scene7.com/skins&image=Renault/Renaultsport&config=Renault/e_brochure_template_3&waitIconTimer=2&backgroundColor=0x7A7A7C&drawPageBorders=true&drawCenterLine=true&viewSize&viewSize=0,0&zoomScl=0&zoomStep=4&&print=defaultBatch,100.7&modifier=resmode%3Dsharp%26op_usm%3D1,1,10,0%26qlt%3D96Clio/Mégane Renaultsport brochure]
- Renault Sport new Megane Trophy