New Megane Trophy spied at the 'Ring
Renault Sport is busy with a Megane already - is another front-drive lap record on the cards?
The curse of the modern Renault Sport hot hatch is that they're never quite bob on from launch. The Megane 225 was a bit of a duffer in 2004, gradually evolving into the far superior F1 Team cars and the exhilarating R26.R. The Clio 200 Cup was a better resolved hot hatch than the 197 of just a few years earlier. Let's not forget, either, that the previous Megane found many more plaudits in various 275 guises than it did as a 250.
Therefore, if the new Megane 280 is found to be a little underwhelming - the UK drives are coming soon, honest - then it won't be a tremendous surprise. Disappointing, yes, but clearly there's form. Moreover, all three examples above turned into world class hot hatches, so there'll be little cause for concern.
Regardless of whether the new Megane is insipid or inspirational, it looks like the employees of Renault Sport are already working on a racier version. Spied testing on the Nurburgring - where else? - this version of the Megane is sporting a new bonnet with intake, Sabelt seats, absolutely no interior, a carbon diffuser and a new exhaust. Looks quite racy, doesn't it? Hunkered down, squat and purposeful (even with whatever is attached to the wheels), this Megane's stance is spot on.
What will it be? Trophy seems the most logical bet, partly because of the heritage of previous Meganes but also because, well, Patrice Ratti said last year that a Megane Trophy was coming... So it's probably not all that far off, surely with a bit more power and various dynamic improvements beyond those already seen here.
Why so soon? The cynical will have already judged the Megane to not be good enough, hence Renault Sport's move to tinker with it, though there may be an ulterior motive. A track-related ulterior motive... Yes, the N-word is back on PH. Renault achieved great notoriety with the previous Trophy-R for its 7:54 Nordschleife lap time (particularly with the hoo-hah around SEAT's slower lap), only to have their glory stolen by the Golf GTI Clubsport S and a 7:47. Honda will claim it currently has the FWD record with a 7:43 in its new Civic Type R, though that car has only run around the lap in prototype form.
So if the Megane Trophy matched the Golf for power - 310hp, 30hp up on standard - plus ramped up the circuit focus of the standard car, could it surpass the Golf? Let's see, though it doesn't seem like we'll have long to find out - our sources are suggesting a 2018 reveal for a 2019 launch. The hot hatch wars continue!
Images: S.Baldauf/S.B. Median
ky.Styling wise I think it's a difficult thing to resolve for all hot hatch manufacturers. Make it more VAG like boring/grown up? Or go all out bonkers Honda style? It does loook a bit tame in white and if the new A1 sets a trend, even standard shopping trolleys will get the full touring car carricature look soon.
My main "problem" with it is that I think the standard Megane is a pretty big car to start with and styled in a way it looks somehow *massive* (to my eyes). And I just prefer more compact cars.
First tests suggest there is a great dynamic foundation there, just needs some sharpened settings and some more aggresion from under the hood.
Couldn't care less about a 3 door, family dad/mom enthusiast drivers need this as an estate! Rather that then a heavy panoramic sunroof that weighs the same dynamically...
If you must have sleek lines and only need limited practicality, get a A110, they will keep their worth methinks...
It's come along way now from the old 225. I think people forget that. I'd be more than happy with a Cup-packed 280 in Tonic Orange with the EDC gearbox and maybe the alcantara pack too.
If they keep releasing updated versions every six months it'll be some bath on the previous car's values
Again, that's not the case. It's not every six months, anyway. They're usually only minor revisions and power hikes regardless. The next upcoming model is this Trophy variant, that Renault did announce early on with the release of this new car. No-one has a clue what they will do with it after that.
It's come along way now from the old 225. I think people forget that. I'd be more than happy with a Cup-packed 280 in Tonic Orange with the EDC gearbox and maybe the alcantara pack too.
My 280 Cup should be leaving the factory in about 3 weeks. Really excited for delivery
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