► A brace of new Renaultsport Meganes
► Last-blast run-out specials
► Engine shared with ‘Ring record breaker
Renault has announced two new Renaultsport editions of the Megane: the new 275 Cup-S and the 275-Nav boasting a fulsome 271bhp (or 275 in metric hp, hence the name). Both are powered by the uprated, EU6-compliant 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo seen on the Nurburgring record-setting Megane RS 275 Trophy-R.
With the new Megane waiting in the wings for a Frankfurt motor show debut, these are run-out specials for the fastest Megane. And they’re no more expensive than the old 265 models, with prices starting at £25,935 for the Nav model and the Cup-S is yours for £23,935.
The 275 Cup-S gets the ‘Cup’ chassis and the limited slip diff. First deliveries of both start in November 2015.
Talk us through the 2.0 turbo
Both new Renaultsport editions feature the same 2.0-litre 271hp turbo engine as the Renault 275 Trophy-R, the car that stole the record for the fastest Nürburgring FWD production car lap time in 2014 (before promptly losing the record in the current hot hatch bun fight).
Power is fed through a six-speed manual gearbox and Renault quotes 0-62mph in 6.0 seconds and a top speed of 158mph. Renaultsport Dynamic Management offers three modes: Normal uses standard throttle mapping with the ESC fully on, producing 250bhp. Sport increases power to 271bhp, with a sportier throttle map and later ESC intervention. Race mode simply switches off the ESC, leaving the car’s limits in the hands and imagination of the driver.
Don’t tell me, there’s a vast option list purely designed to empty my bank account…
Yup. The Nav comes with more as standard (hence the larger starting price) than the Cup-S, which arrives with just the Cup Chassis Pack. That means 18in Tibor alloys in matt black, Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres, that LSD, red brake callipers and uprated springs, dampers and anti-roll bar.
Here’s what we thought about the Megane Renaultsport 275 Trophy-R.