Renault has announced details of the new Megane Renaultsport 250, the replacement for the much loved 225 based on the latest generation of its family hatch.
This time the hot Megane is based on the coupe variant, and looks purposeful (if rather oddly proportioned). Similarly purposeful is the revised version of the 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged lump, packing a 20bhp power upgrade and additional 30 lb ft of torque. This brings headline figures to 250bhp, and 251 lb ft at 3000rpm. Perhaps the most impressive stat Renault has released is that 80% of torque is available from just 1900rpm, which should make the car very tractable through its six-speed manual 'box.
As we've come to expect from hot Renaults there are 2 main chassis options to choose from, the standard 'Sport' version that will be tuned mainly for road use, and the harder, more track day-focused 'Cup' chassis. Either way, you'll get the clever 'PerfoHub' independent steering axis front suspension system that keeps the steering and suspension functions separate, so hopefully the same keen handling from the 225 will be evident here.
Of course, there are some toys. When you're pushing hard (and in moments of talent-deficit), 'Renaultsport Dynamic Management' is there to keep things kosher. There's a default 'On' setting for the cautious, a 'Sport' mode for the casual thrillseeker and 'Off' mode for the downright lairy. There's also a rather nice-sounding feature called 'Renaultsport Monitor' with all sorts of information on offer including gearchange warnings, acceleration and lap timing, real-time engine performance stats and more.
Styling details abound to attempt to give the rather bulky coupe a sleeker, sportier look, with an F1-inspired front 'blade' (with, inevitably, LED daytime running lights), extended wheel arches, side skirts, a 'phat' central tailpipe and rear diffuser, and an extended tailgate spoiler.
We're not sure that all this chintz can quite rescue this slightly ungainly-looking coupe, and no word is out yet on the all-important kerb weight, but hopefully it will prove more nimble in real life than its aesthetic bulk would suggest. We'll try to find out for you when it's released later this year.