- Two new Mégane Renaultsport versions for 2016 model year
- New 275 Cup-S offers high-end performance at entry-level price
- 275 Nav replaces the 265 – 10hp more with no price increase
- Both powered by an EU6-compliant 2.0-litre 275hp turbo engine
- 275 Cup-S has upgraded ‘Cup’ chassis with LSD as standard
- Wide range of performance-enhancing options available
- Mégane Renaultsport 275 Cup-S priced at £23,935
- Mégane Renaultsport 275 Nav priced at £25,935
- Both available to order now with deliveries starting in November
Hot hatch enthusiasts can now enjoy all the thrills of the multi-award-winning, high-performance Mégane Renaultsport at a more affordable price with the introduction of the new 275 Cup-S. It is on sale immediately priced at £23,935.
The Mégane Renaultsport line-up also sees another new version – the 275 Nav – that replaces the outgoing 265. As the name suggests it has 10hp more than the model it replaces. It comes with a more luxurious level of specification and is priced at £25,935.
Both new Mégane Renaultsport versions are powered by the same 2.0-litre, 275hp turbocharged petrol engine as the limited-edition 275 Trophy-R which, in June 2014, shattered the lap record for a front-wheel-drive production car around the 13-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife with a time of 7 minutes 54.36 seconds.
Following in the footsteps of previous Renaultsport models to carry the ‘Cup’ moniker, the 275 Cup-S features the uprated Cup chassis as standard whilst sporting a lower price tag than the 275 Nav in exchange for some of its sibling’s higher specification items.
Owners who wish to sharpen the car’s responses to an even higher level, and particularly for track use, can specify a series of components developed between Renaultsport and world-renowned performance specialists.
The Mégane Renaultsport 275 Cup-S
The heart of any high-performance car is its engine, which in this case is a Renaultsport-developed 2.0-litre turbocharged unit. In normal mode it develops 250hp at 5,500rpm for comfortable everyday performance driving, but through the Renaultsport Dynamic Management system this can be increased to 275hp for truly scintillating response. At the same time there is maximum torque of 360Nm, available across a broad rev band from 3,000 to 5,000rpm. The gearbox is a slick-shifting six-speed manual with ratios chosen to maximise the dynamic performance of the engine.
Acceleration from 0-62mph is attainable in 6.0 seconds and the top speed is 158mph. Yet this EU6-compliant powerhouse also addresses today’s concerns about fuel efficiency and emissions. With the aid of the Stop&Start engine cut-off system it has an NEDC combined fuel economy of 37.7mpg, with CO2 emissions of 174g/km.
The Renaultsport Dynamic Management system which gives access to the full 275hp has three modes linked to the Electronic Stability Control (ESC). In Normal mode the car develops 250hp and has standard throttle mapping with the ESC fully on. Sport mode raises the power to 275hp and has sport throttle mapping and later ESC intervention. Race mode also delivers 275hp with sport throttle mapping, but switches off the ESC completely.
The focused and finely-honed nature of the Mégane Renaultsport models continues to be evident in the PerfoHub double-axis front suspension, which sets them apart from the rest of the Mégane range. This has been engineered to overcome the drawbacks commonly associated with powerful front-wheel-drive cars, such as self-steering input through tight corners and poor straight-line stability. The 275 Cup-S also has the proven Cup Chassis Pack with mechanical limited-slip differential, red paint on the Brembo four-pot brake calipers, firmer springs and dampers and a stiffer anti-roll bar, making it ideal for circuit use.
The 275 Cup-S can be supplemented with a number of options developed in conjunction with performance component specialists to further hone performance and enjoyment as follows:
Öhlins Road & Track adjustable dampers
Representing an evolution of technology employed in motorsport and on the Mégane N4 rally car, these allow drivers to adjust the damper settings for optimum performance in line with road conditions and driving style.
First offered on the Mégane Renaultsport 275 Trophy and Trophy-R, the optional Öhlins adjustable dampers, unlike conventional models with rods, feature a sliding cartridge, a design feature that reduces the shear forces that can ‘block’ the moving rod.
They also use DFV (Dual Flow Valve) technology, a major innovation that functions on both rebound and compression. Their speed of operation, at both low and high frequencies, keeps the tyre in contact with the ground in almost all circumstances. In the event of heavy usage, the internal bleed valve maintains consistent damping quality even when the fluid heats up.
As requested by Renaultsport, the Öhlins Road & Track dampers are fitted with a hydraulic compression stop at the front. The PDS (Progressive Damping System) provides additional damping capacity at the end of the compression phase, when the car brakes hard or hits a bump.
The dampers are adjustable and, with 20 positions at the front and 30 at the rear, the car can adapt precisely to all types of surface and all driving styles. To help owners make the most of the Öhlins adjustable dampers, an online tutorial has been provided at the www.renaultsport.com website.
Akrapovič lightweight titanium exhaust system
The renowned Slovenian manufacturer of exhaust systems for motorcycles and performance cars, has designed a bespoke titanium exhaust system that cuts 4kg from the vehicle weight and generates a more raucous, sporty note.
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres
Road homologated yet ideal for circuit use this ultra-high performance tyre is fitted on many supercars and was first fitted to a front-wheel drive car as standard on the Mégane Renaultsport 275 Trophy-R. After testing at several tracks, a version of the tyre was jointly approved for the Mégane Renaultsport. The Pilot Sport Cup 2 is designed to offer better grip, more precise steering, more consistent performance at high speeds as well as improved endurance and versatility.
The specification of the Mégane Renaultsport 275 Cup-S has been carefully chosen to provide everything the performance hatch enthusiast needs while ensuring the car is accessible to the greatest number of buyers.
There are Renaultsport extended wheel arches and side protection mouldings, the Renaultsport F1-style front blade and rear diffuser with gloss black sections and a Renaultsport extended rear spoiler, all of which improve aerodynamic performance and increase downforce. The door mirrors have gloss black shells and are electrically operated and heated and there are electric front windows. The 18-inch ‘Tibor’ alloys have a matt black finish and are fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres.
19-inch alloy wheels are available instead of the standard 18-inch rims. In keeping with Renaultsport’s policy of always offering the optimum handling set-up, different tyre and wheel combinations are available depending on wheel size and the suspension fitted to the vehicle.
Inside, the 275 Cup-S is fitted with logoed Renaultsport seats, a Renaultsport analogue rev counter and speedometer, drilled aluminium pedals, a leather Renaultsport steering wheel, the three-mode Renaultsport Dynamic Management system, air conditioning, a 4x20W radio and CD player with Bluetooth and an AUX input, keycard entry, cruise control, speed limiter and comes with the Renault Anti-Intruder Device, which automatically locks the doors above 6mph.
There is a range of options available on the 275 Cup-S and 275 Nav. A full list is provided in the Options table below.
The Mégane Renaultsport 275 Nav
The second model in the new Mégane Renaultsport line-up is the 275 Nav, which delivers identical performance to the 275 Cup-S from the same engine, but has a specification more suited to everyday road driving.
The 275 Nav is fitted with the standard ‘Sport’ chassis, which still provides a formidable degree of handling finesse and precision, but has more compliant suspension. Standard wheels are the 18-inch ‘Tibor’ alloy wheels with a satin anthracite finish and Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres whilst the Cup Chassis Pack is available as an option.
The 275 Nav builds on the specification of the 275 Cup-S with additional standard features such as automatic lights and wipers, dual-zone climate control, hands-free keycard entry system, rear parking sensors with colour camera, extra tinted rear side windows and tailgate, a sunvisor with illumination, chrome Renaultsport door sill plates, a 4x35W sound system and the R-Link v2 multimedia and navigation system with live traffic updates.
A unique option on the 275 Nav is the Renaultsport Leather Pack with heated front seats, carbon grey Renaultsport leather upholstery, electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory function and adjustable lumber support. Leather Recaros are an option on both the 275 Cup-S and the 275 Nav.
Both versions are available in standard Glacier White or six metallic colours: Arctic White, Diamond Black, Mercury Silver, Titanium Grey as well as the new Flame Red – first seen on the Clio – and the iconic Liquid Yellow.
As with any Renault, the Mégane Renaultsports are covered by a four-year warranty which offers unlimited-mileage cover in the first two years and then two further years of protection up to 100,000 miles, plus four years’ European roadside assistance.
Servicing on the Mégane Renaultsport 275 versions is every 18,000 miles / 12 months. Renault Service Plans are available for three years / 30,000 miles at £399 and four years / 40,000 miles at £599.
MEGANE RENAULTSPORT TECHNICAL INFORMATION
| Model | Power (hp @ rpm) |
Torque (Nm @ rpm) |
0-62mph (sec) | Top speed (mph) |
| Mégane Renaultsport 275 Cup-S and 275 Nav | 275 @ 5,500 | 360 @ 3,000-5,000 | 6.0 | 158 |
MEGANE RENAULTSPORT OWNERSHIP INFORMATION
| Model | MPG | CO2(g/km) | BIK (band %) |
VED (band) |
Insurance group |
| Mégane Renaultsport 275 Cup-S and 275 Nav | 37.7 | 174 | 29% | H | 40E |
MEGANE RENAULTSPORT PRICING
| Model | Price |
| Mégane Renaultsport 275 Cup-S | £23,935 |
| Mégane Renaultsport 275 Nav | £25,935 |
MEGANE RENAULTSPORT OPTIONS
| EXTERIOR | 275 Cup-S |
275 Nav |
PRICE |
| Alloy wheels – 19” ‘STEEV’ Speedline in a diamond cut finish with Continental Sport Contact 5 tyres | m | m | £1,000 |
| Alloy wheels – 19″ ‘STEEV’ Speedline in gloss black / red rim with Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres | m | m | £1,000 |
| Metallic paint | m | m | £525 |
| Renault i.d paint: Arctic White/ Flame Red | m | m | £625 |
| Renault i.d paint: Liquid Yellow | m | m | £1,300 |
| COMFORT | |||
| Sunroof – fixed panoramic with sunblind | m | m | £460 |
| Extra tinted windows (side rear & rear) | m | l | £200 |
| Door mirrors – electrically operated, heated and folding | m | m | £150 |
| Recaro seats: Carbon grey cloth & part-leather upholstery | − | m | £1,300 |
| Recaro seats: Carbon grey leather upholstery | m | m | £1,300 |
| Alcantara trim: steering wheel, gear gaiter & hand brake | m | − | £300 |
| PERFORMANCE | |||
| Öhlins adjustable Road & Track dampers | m | − | £2,000 |
| Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres (N.B. requires 19” wheels & Öhlins dampers) |
m | − | £1,000 |
| Akrapovič titanium exhaust system | m | − | £2,500 |
| SAFETY AND SECURITY | |||
| Rear parking camera with rear sensors | m | l | £350 |
| Hands free keycard | m | l | £250 |
| Emergency spare wheel | m | m | £95 |
| TECHNOLOGY | |||
| RS Monitor v1 – on board performance tracking system (uses existing dash display) | m | − | £195 |
| RS Monitor v2 – on board performance tracking system (larger colour screen – requires RLink system) | m | − | £295 |
| R-Link v2 multimedia system including 7″ touch screen, EU Mapping, App store (includes 12 mths TomTom LIVE services subscription) | m | l | £400 |
| TomTom LIVE services 3 year subscription | m | m | £150 |
| OPTION PACKS | |||
| Climate Pack – Automatic dual-zone climate control, Automatic headlights & wipers | m | l | £500 |
| Leather Pack Renaultsport – Carbon grey Renaultsport leather upholstery with heated front seats, electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory function & adjustable lumbar support | − | m | £1,250 |
| Cup Chassis Pack – 18″ ‘Tibor’ alloys in matt black fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres, LSD, red brake callipers, uprated springs / dampers / anti-roll bar | l | m | £1,350 |
l = Standard. m = Option.