![]() ![]() Performance Hub front suspension allows for a steering axis that’s completely separated from the damper, unlike the typical MacPherson strut setup where the steering axis is attached to the ball joint of the lower arm and upper damper mounting. With so much power going to the front wheels, torque steer is sure to be an issue. Aluminium pivots and lower arms reduce unsprung weight while ball joints are used in place of bearings for less friction. Compared to the standard chassis, suspension flex has been reduced by 35% and 38% respectively for the front and rear. The ‘Cup’ in the name is from Renault Sport’s Cup chassis, which is 10 mm lowered with uprated springs, specific dampers and thicker anti roll bars. I also love the way it pulls from low speed in high gears – this flexibility allows you to short shift your way up, stick it in fifth and drive it like an auto when you’re in a mood to relax. The Megane RS 250’s engine doesn’t sound spectacular, but there’s a blare at high revs that’s more audible from the rear seats than the fronts. The big boost wave kicks in when you approach 2,500 rpm and it’s willing all the way to redline, which is about 6,500 rpm (there’s a customisable sound and light shift warning in the tacho). That’s eight tenths of a second faster than a Golf GTI although it doesn’t feel that explosive in action. These figures are 20 hp and 30 Nm more than in the R26.Ġ-100 km/h is done in just 6.1 seconds on to a top speed of 245 km/h. The result is 250 hp at 5,500 rpm and 340 Nm at 3,000 rpm, 80% of which (272 Nm) is available at 1,900 rpm. A twin-scroll turbo, new intake ports, reinforced piston/conrods, new coolers, sodium coated valves and piston ring carriers are among the changes. The engine is the same 2.0-litre turbo four, but over 25% of it is new. It’s a known fact that I love the previous gen R26 F1 Team to bits, but Renault Sport – an independent entity based in Dieppe, France that also builds the firm’s race cars – has managed to improved every aspect of that car in its quest to have the best FWD car in town, although the basic recipe remains unchanged. In Malaysia, only Honda with its Civic Type R can claim to be so focussed. “Just as well” and “posers apply elsewhere” will be the type of answers you’re going to get from Renault and TC Euro Cars if the auto topic is raised – like the RS models before it, the Megane RS 250 Cup is a true enthusiast machine. That said, Renault Sport’s “keep it true” policy of only offering manual gearboxes means that its appeal won’t be as widespread as VW’s DSG equipped sporty cars. In the Malaysian context, one’s bound to compare the RM229,800 Megane with the 210 PS/280 Nm Scirocco, which exposes the VW’s ambitious RM245K pricetag. In Europe, the Megane RS fights for the same buyer as the Scirocco R and Ford Focus RS, and with 250 hp and 340 Nm, the performance on offer is one (rather large) notch up from the Golf GTI and Scirocco 2.0 TSI. ![]() Like the Volkswagen Scirocco, Renault calls its three-door Megane RS250 a coupe – while the new body is much more than just two doors lopped off from the five-door Megane III, few will view this alongside purpose built coupes such as the Audi TT or Nissan 370Z. Let’s start by looking at where the hot Megane stands in the world of hot hatchbacks. Monitor which reads out g-force and lap times (among other figures car nuts love) and the sole option of a six-speed manual gearbox. At just below RM230K, this king of hot hatches comes with 250 turbocharged horses, mechanical LSD, mega Brembos with slotted discs, Recaro seats, R.S. The RS 250 Cup was launched two weeks ago at Sepang, and it looks like TC Euro Cars has ticked all the right boxes and pushed all the right enthusiast buttons. The previous gen R26 (the one with the big booty) was a great drive, and it would be interesting to see how Renault Sport would improve on the experience with the Megane RS, if it could. I have been itching to drive the Megane Renault Sport 250 Cup ever since we knew that it was coming to Malaysia. ![]()
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