RS Megane Trophy-R not sold out in UK
32-car UK allocation of Renault Sport's halo model still on sale despite manifest excellence
You might have expected all 32 UK-bound Renault Sport Megane Trophy-Rs would have been snapped up by now, given the universal praise heaped upon the exotic hatch. But it seems that isn’t quite the case...
A Renault spokesperson told PH that sales are actually still open eight months on from its launch, with a “handful” remaining unaccounted for. One insider from the dealer network added that eight right-hand drive cars are currently awaiting import from France, suggesting the track-honed two-seater has fallen short of anticipated demand. That’s somewhat surprising, given that the Trophy-R is the most capable front-wheel drive road car PH has tested yet. Surely there are 32 Brits willing to fork out for that.
Then again, you wouldn’t be alone in arguing that a £51k list price for a Renault remains absolutely mad no matter the machine it’s attached to. It’s true that Renault Sport has had no trouble in convincing 30 global buyers to buy its £72k Nurburgring-spec Trophy-R, which comes with those carbon brakes and wheels as standard. But there are a lot of people in the world. The UK’s seemingly small allocation from the 500-total run of ‘normal’ Rs probably looked an equally easy sell, but much like the 300hp halo’s similarly honed predecessor, the 275 Trophy R, demand hasn’t quite met anticipation when it comes to bringing in the orders.
It’s not like we don’t lust after specially tuned Renault Sports in Britain, either. It was less than 10 years ago that the nation accounted for half of all Dieppe-made product demand, after all. But that was when prices of even the most exotic Renaults started with a three, not a five or seven. Perhaps the present scenario is evidence of the brand going through its glass ceiling; even those who understand the technical value of what’s packed into the unquestionably exceptional Trophy-R presumably aren’t all easily convinced to hand over cash. Cash not far from that asked for a 400hp Cayman GTS 4.0, a car the Renault can’t even claim to be more practical than, thanks to its mandatory rear bench delete.
One thing we were correct about is the type of buyer that seems to have bought into Renault Sport’s fastest road car. A spokesperson said they’re often car collectors and enthusiasts who also own track-focussed machines from the likes of McLaren and Ferrari, emphasising the level of respect the car has garnered. Like the Trophy-R’s older siblings, however, the car has arrived at a time of economic downturn, so it seems that sourcing more than a couple of dozen people of this calibre in Britain has been no easy task. The company has rolled out a redeemable £500 discount voucher for all of its models to lure buyers into showrooms this month, but when it comes to the Trophy-R’s price, that’s less than a one per cent reduction. So it’s fair to assume the voucher is focussed on affecting the other end of Renault’s line-up rather than something with optional carbon wheels.
Things look far better closer to the middle of Renault Sport’s range, where the non-Cup chassis Megane with an automatic gearbox lives. As Dan mentioned in this report, it’s the most convincing blend of approachable performance and value for money in the division’s present line-up. Which, you’ll likely have noted, is the exact same thing that made Renault Sport so popular with Brits in the first place. The Trophy-R is a hero and we’re certainly glad it’s here. But it seems the bread and butter stuff below it is where the greater success stories live for now.
The Renault isn't 15k (or more) better and has nothing like the brand cachet or following.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff