The New Renault Megane RS Is Here With 276bhp And Four-Wheel Steering

The latest Megane Renault Sport has been revealed in Frankfurt, with a new automatic gearbox option and rear-axle steering
The New Renault Megane RS Is Here With 276bhp And Four-Wheel Steering

Even towards the end of its life, the last Megane Renault Sport was a masterclass in how a hot hatchback should feel. Yes, there were faster and more extreme cars in the class by then, but none had quite the delicacy, so don’t be put off by the fact the new one - revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show today - has ‘only’ 276bhp to play with. Because if it’s anything like the old one, it should be deliriously good to drive.

Things are certainly looking promising under the bonnet: gone is the old 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four, replaced with a new 1.8-litre unit. It’s the same basic engine as the gnarly sounding four-pot in the new Alpine A110, and as well as 276bhp, it puts out 288lb ft of torque.

The New Renault Megane RS Is Here With 276bhp And Four-Wheel Steering

The thrust is sent exclusively to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual or - for the first time in one of these cooking Meganes - a six-speed automatic, complete with launch control system. The standard car makes do with an open differential, but if you spec the more focused ‘Cup’ chassis, you get a Torsen limited-slip differential.

All cars get hydraulic bump stops, as well as ‘4Control’ all-wheel steering, which sees the rear wheels angle in the opposite direction to the fronts at lower speeds to help agility, while adding stability at higher speeds by turning the rears in the same direction.

The New Renault Megane RS Is Here With 276bhp And Four-Wheel Steering

The bodywork has been suitably beefed up - it’s now 60mm wider at the front and 45mm wider at the rear compared to a Megane GT. Extra marks must be awarded for the gigantic rear diffuser, and the fabulous ‘RS Vision’ light arrangement in the lower front grilles.

On the inside you’ll find sports seats with integrated headrests, and a whole lot of red stitching. The cabin can either be specced with a “‘carbon fibre weave” finish, or festooned with Alcantara.

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Want one? It goes on sale in the UK during Spring 2018 for around £28,000. Or if you don’t mind waiting a little while, a Trophy version will be making an appearance nearer the end of next year, with 296bhp and - we’re predicting - some front-wheel drive Nurburgring bragging rights.

Comments

Anonymous

They say it makes 276hp only for people to find out it’s actually making 350hp later on.

09/12/2017 - 07:57 |
50 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Jokes aside, first time I’ve heard about this (in my country at least) regarding Renault.
Is this a common thing for them to understate the power of the RS models?

09/12/2017 - 12:14 |
0 | 0
Zubayer Rezoan

Checkered Flag Fog Light . . . . . . .hmmm

09/12/2017 - 07:59 |
14 | 4

[DELETED]

09/12/2017 - 08:16 |
6 | 20
Nishant Dash

“276bhp” we get it Renault. It’s got 320 horses

09/12/2017 - 08:02 |
116 | 0
Tomislav Celić

I like the idea of it, I want to like it, but I simply can’t. Design simply doesn’t cut it, and I’d have to explain to people why I bough a Renault, and then if I had the Type R, well peole would let me through every time, and I’d have the attention of every kid in my town. But then again, so much price for FWD? Dunno logic would probably take me to buy a Golf R, but in the end my heart would take me to buy a Focus RS

09/12/2017 - 08:10 |
14 | 16

The Golf is too common, so is the Focus. That why I’d go for the Megane or the Civic

09/12/2017 - 08:42 |
10 | 0

Why is there such a hype around Type R recently? Fast Renaults are legendary as well and especially previous Mégane RS was known as a great hot hatch and was very favourite car for track days. And I am not a Reanult fan btw.

09/12/2017 - 09:10 |
16 | 0

Anybody who questions you for buying a hot Renault has no idea what they’re on about.

09/12/2017 - 14:43 |
6 | 0
Anonymous

Instead of making complicated systems like 4ws, they could’ve just gone RWD and it would have been just as good, if not better handling.

09/12/2017 - 08:18 |
6 | 16
JenstheGTIfreak (pizza)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Yeah and the car would be even more expensive

09/12/2017 - 08:27 |
2 | 2
Fantaribo

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

What is the point, business wise, to develop a RWD hot hatch based on a FWD platform ? Huge R&D investment and losing money to satisfy a handfull petrolheads ?

09/12/2017 - 08:57 |
14 | 2
NyteetyN

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

You can’t just “go rwd.” Base Mégane is a cheap family car in the first place.

09/12/2017 - 09:12 |
8 | 2
5:19.55

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Lel

09/12/2017 - 10:25 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Nothing complicated about it. It’s just Saabs reaxs with a different name. Been around since at least 2003

09/12/2017 - 16:35 |
0 | 0
Malaysian Boyracer

why would u get one in automatic…

09/12/2017 - 08:48 |
14 | 0

Maybe because someone is too lazy to press the clutch?

09/12/2017 - 17:00 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

Still waiting for a twingo rs.

09/12/2017 - 09:54 |
10 | 0
P1eased0nteatme

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

God yes please, although Renault have confirmed it’s not happening

09/12/2017 - 14:40 |
8 | 0
TheRealBouss

I think it looks a hell of a lot better than the Type R

09/12/2017 - 09:56 |
12 | 0
Anonymous

Sweet now we have a manual to throw in our Alpine A110s

09/12/2017 - 10:18 |
10 | 0
Anonymous

28k pounds just for a car that has more weight just for better control at low speeds?!??! Oh hhhhell no!

09/12/2017 - 10:30 |
4 | 8
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

And don’t say it has 350 hp, it’s still dumb

09/12/2017 - 10:32 |
2 | 8

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