Renault has launched a microsite counting down to the new Renaultsport Megane hot hatch, which bows in at the imminent 2009 Geneva motor show – and with it, this first teaser glimpse of the new Renault hot hatch.
It’s the warmed-up iteration of the regular Megane hatchback range, which spells a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot producing some 250bhp and sending drive to the front wheels. A limited slip-diff is expected to be employed, taming that thrust through the front axle; Renault has extensive experience of trick diffs to prevent its current Megane range of hot hatches talking the torque.
Renaultsport Megane: how they’re making the hatch chaud
We hear the rest of the Renaultsport Megane package will be similarly enhanced, with the addition of Brembo brakes, numerous chassis mods and a bodykit – clearly visible in this single image – inspired by the Megane Coupe Trophy, doyen of Renault’s stand on home turf at last year’s 2008 Paris motor show.
This image was grabbed by our friends at Autoblog, who enhanced the animation from Renault’s own teaser countdown website.
What else do we know about the new 2009 Megane RS?
CAR’s earlier scooped spy photos of the new Renaultsport Megane suggest the finished car will have a centre-exit exhaust. We caught the car testing at the Nurburgring, raising our hopes that it’ll be as electric to drive as the current farewell edition Megane, the gloriously madcap R26R.
Renaultsport models are very popular in the UK, accounting for an impressive 20% of all three-door Sport Hatch Meganes in the last generation. Renault hopes to continue that trend with a diesel Renaultsport version in the pipeline to carry on where the 175bhp dCi model finished off.
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