Renault Megane RS 265 video review
Price Guide recommended price before charging 42.640 legal delivery options installed to test the car not included in the above prices Nile rating accident five EuroNCAP stars 98 RON fuel PASTE Claimed fuel economy The 100 km 8 2L 100 km CO2 emissions g km CO2 190g km also Ford Focus ST 38290, Volkswagen Golf GTI 38990; Alfa Romeo Giullietta QV 41990; Mazda Mazda3 MPS 39490.
No doubt there are some great hot hatches around these days and perhaps the greatest of all is the Renault Megane RS 265.
RS in its name is really important is synonymous with Renault Sport, the motor sport division of the French company.
These guys aren t just good to build race cars, they also have a great pedigree when it comes to take straight Renault models like the Megane and turn them into really entertaining discs.
The 265 is the latest variation on the theme; relative to 250 s it replaces more power and torque of the engine 2 turbocharged 0 liters, more equipment and a wide range of three models.
That's not counting the limited edition RS 265 August 08, of which only 100 will come to Australia, to celebrate the fastest lap ever before-wheel drive produced around the legendary Nurburgring.
What we've got here is the 42640 Cup base model and comes 47140 Trophy and the Trophy 51604 The August 08 slots 49990.
While the Cup is the entry level model, there is nothing entry level about its performance.
The 98 RON fuel, it zaps from zero to 100 kilometers an hour in six seconds and has the capacity claimed that we didn t try this bit to hit a top speed of 255 km h Former 250 was only 0 1 dry slower 0-100 h.
The number in the name refers to the power and gives you an idea of where the time to improved acceleration comes in metric units is a lift from 184kW to 195kW torque also increases from 340Nm to 360Nm.
Improved engine performance F4Rt comes via an increase in boost pressure from March 2 to May 2 bar, and the air intake associated changes.
Reputedly, the power increase is at the request of the French gendarmerie, who use Mégane RS as lucky buggers pursuit vehicles.
Driving only a short-throw manual gearbox six-speed engine is a crackling, Rorty thing Cruise sixth to save fuel, then in the fourth or third, accelerate with real purpose propagation torque is large enough flexibility clutch is just as usable even if some practice is required to get a quick start and threat which claimed 0-100 time.
The flip side of this is claimed May 7 percent decrease in fuel consumption to 8 100 km 2L We managed 9 7L 100 km, which is pretty good considering the performance potential.
But it is not just under the hood where the RS impress the guys at Renault Sport really show their skills through a chassis that can manages 195 kilowatts and 360 Newton meters the engine delivers.
At these front-wheel drive cars outputs are typically marred by torque steer and wheel spin.
But the RS is provided with a differential helical limited slip and an independent intelligent direction axis geometry of the suspension before the electric power steering means is still detectable but do not interfere, even when reducing the stability and traction control in sport mode or turn off completely.
You'll want to click in Sport mode, because the mapping of gas is made sharper, exhaust burble develops over a term and only then are the full power and torque levels are delivered Stay in normal and you got a RS 250.
The passage is really noticeable, especially because of the joystick powerful living Brembo brakes gas then become an asset even more useful.
All these well-tuned elements combine in an exciting driving experience effortlessly steers Cup firmly but heavy intimate 18-inch 235 40ZR18 rubber the Trophy models and August 08 race at 19s, surely handles and handles with a deliciously diabolical Even litheness the trick is in the limits of acceptability, misses the pliance of the Golf GTI or the pain of a Focus RS.
This drive connection is emphasized in the cockpit The relationship between drilled in metal brake and accelerator pedals and tilt is toeing a breeze, cloth sport seats offer tremendous support and steering wheel leather adjusted in height and inclination.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the rear passengers are claustrophobic cramped in storage with three doors and trunk space are not made nor protruding.
Outside, you can choose the RS updated by series of subtle changes that include a front blade F1, two rows of six LEDs and black headlamp masks.
Inside, the Coupe has distinctive red stitching and red seat belts and a dashboard with carbon fiber effect and red highlights The most obvious improvement is necessary internal renovation of the audio interface, now much more intuitive Hallelujah a white tachometer replaces the old yellow paper, while a digital counter is added to a dashboard that keeps away the curious slanted driver of the standard Megane.
temperature control of the double joint area to the standard equipment list, while the audio Arkamys assembly includes an auxiliary input socket 3 5 mm and a USB port.
Other Cup Standard equipment includes alloy 18-inch, eight airbags, red front brake calipers, automatic headlights and wipers, rear parking sensors, cruise control and a space saver spare wheel.
But undoubtedly the sharpest feature of the Cup car is Renault Sport Monitor Provides turbo pressure data, in real time torque and power readings, a g-meter, the acceleration data, a stopwatch with memory and another way to modify the mappings of gas, this time by five modes, with snow to extreme, well, extreme to the other.
It is fun to tinker with, but really it is conduct that is at the heart of the appeal of the RS 265 Cup It really makes you enjoy winding country road.
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Renault Megane RS 265 Cup 2012 Test Drive, Renault megane, road test.