Tuesday 22nd July 2008

Motor Show: Megane R26.R

Renault says R26.R is the quickest production FWD car ever to lap the 'Ring

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Renault has unveiled what it claims is the fastest front-wheel drive production car ever to lap the Nurbugring. The French firm launched the R26.R at the British Motor Show and said that it had used extensive weight saving measures.

Renault Formula 1 boss Pat Symonds said the car has now lapped the 'Ring in 8.17 and is quicker than any other FWD car. There is a weight saving of 123kg over the standard R26 (the R26.R now weighs 1230kg) thanks to lighter glass, just two seats and a carbon fibre bonnet.

Symonds said he he already ordered an R26.R, adding: 'It is a fabulous car.'

 

[Dr Imran T]

Go Renault good cars the Megane! driven one round brands and was well impressed.

[dazsmith69]

wonder how many laps it did before it broke down lol

impressive, but just couldnt get away with a french car

[CampDavid]

Unusual for Simo to comment on a production car.

Hope he likes it!

[Magners P.H]

That roll cage looks awful.

Edited by Magners P.H on Tuesday 22 July 10:56

[Mclovin]

Wow that is amazing. If it wasn't for the crap aftersales I'd be sleeping outside a showroom for one.

[JonRB]

So, due to an extensive regime of weight saving including thinner glass and carbon fibre, they've managed to get it down to the production weight of my Corrado VR6. Well, there's progress for you.

[Skyman]

Magners P.H said:

That roll cage looks awful.

Edited by Magners P.H on Tuesday 22 July 10:56

It's a roll cage FFS. They are not intended to look good.

[f111lover]

Funny how peoples views of Renault are so different, must be down to dealers. I've had a Megane for over two years now and it's been totally reliable, also my dealer has been nothing less than excellent from start to finish. Looks nice.

IMO, you can't equate the weights of modern cars to older ones, it's not the fault of the manufacturers that they've all got fat, it's the politicians.

Edited by f111lover on Tuesday 22 July 11:03

[rgracin]

Still FWD? Outrageous! What is it with Renault? This is going to be a wheelspin fest and absolute rubbish!

Oh, hang on a minute, I've not even driven it yet.

See Focus RS thread!!!!!

[Mclovin]

Bloody well hope the roll cage is standard.

[chunkymonkey71]

Apparently it gets progressively faster with every lap... as bits fall off.



(I'd still like one though...)

[silver surfer]

I'll wait for the R26.RRR.

SS

[sprinter885]

Pat Symonds has to order one ??
I wonder where & when he'll have time to drive one. Can't see it being a particularly comfy car for road use..maybe just me.

[Magners P.H]

Skyman said:

Magners P.H said:

That roll cage looks awful.

Edited by Magners P.H on Tuesday 22 July 10:56

It's a roll cage FFS. They are not intended to look good.

I badly phrased that,

It makes the car look ruddy aweful. But then I guess the Megane was never a good looker in the first place.

[C43]

I was at the Ring last week in a Lotus and the only thing that went past me was the previous hot version of the F1 Megan. The guy was super quick in it. But then he had done about 1 million laps....

[SWoll]

As much as I applaud Renault for creating niche products like this, I just don't get it.

If I was in the market for a fast, French, 2 seat hatchback that would be great fun on both road and track i would be far more tempted by one of these.



10k cheaper, gorgeous engine note and a true peice of exotica. (I wont go into the FWD vs RWD argument after reading the Focus RS thread)

I'm sure the R26.R will be a great peice of kit (the 8.17 Ring time is very impressive) but it just leaves me cold.

[Munich]

JonRB said:

So, due to an extensive regime of weight saving including thinner glass and carbon fibre, they've managed to get it down to the production weight of my Corrado VR6. Well, there's progress for you.

I would say that was progress considering the Megane has a 5-star NCAP safety rating.

I just hope they do the same to the Clio Cup.

[Silentrunning]

You can't polish a turd... at the end of the day it's still a Renault, and an expensive one at that. And it STILL weighs too much!

[chris_w666]

Hmm so if 2 fat men were in one a standard R26 driven by a skinny man should be quicker?

[Fotofrog]

Think it looks awsome ... the F1 Megane is a great car and the R version looks even better.. saves time on having to strip it down and fit the cage yourself for stiffness fun ... ! (insert joke)

FWD vs RWD - Who cares ... each to their own ...

Love the car ... would take one of these over the RS to be honest..

• Ducks for a slating from someone as i havent driven either car yet*