Renault Megane RS Trophy-R Proves Less Is More; Much More

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Renault Megane RS Trophy-R Proves Less Is More; Much More

It's true that the new Megane RS Trophy-R took a while to come out. That, however, was intentional on Renault's part, who obviously had its reasons.

When the French deemed it was good and ready, it did was it was designed to do from the outset: claim the Nurburgring Nordschleife lap record for front-wheel drive production vehicles.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y0rQZ56k_c

This should be enough to convince you to get one if you're in the market for a hot hatch. But is the premium actually worth it over the regular RS or RS Trophy? That's what we're going to find out in the next paragraphs and, ultimately, on video at the end of the story.

First off, the latest and greatest version of the French compact model produces nearly double the amount of downforce compared to its lesser siblings. It's also 130 kg (286 lbs) lighter, but the weight savings have come at the expense of the four-wheel steering, larger infotainment screen and several bits and pieces. So, you'll pay more but get less.

You won't get any extra oomph, either; the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is identical to the one in the Megane RS Trophy, producing 300 PS (296 hp / 110 kW). And that's not all, because the steering doesn't actually feel that different and could offer more feedback, and the six-speed manual gearbox wasn't to the reviewer's taste.

It's when you take it on the track, though, where the Trophy-R really shines. Traction and grip are simply amazing, and the optional carbon ceramic brakes are extraordinary. It is also more forgiving and, since it lacks four-wheel steering, it also feels less tail-happy, so driverswill be encouraged to keep the right foot planted for longer periods of time.


Link: https://www.carscoops.com/2019/07/renault-megane-rs-trophy-r-proves-less-is-more-much-more/