What's the news?
Here it is - one of the most important contenders in the most fiercely contested hot hatch battle ground of all, the C-segment. And it's the Renault Sport Megane, or the Megane RS in shorthand. Premiering at the Frankfurt Motor Show, it'll be on sale in spring 2018, being the third generation of RS Megane since the original launched in 2004, and it's based (obviously) on the fourth generation of the French company's family hatch.
Exterior
Renault Sport says the exterior of the Megane RS is a result of 'performance-driven design', most notable in the wider wings front and rear - the car's increased track means it's 60mm fatter at the leading axle and 45mm at the back, when compared to the Megane GT, currently the quickest model in the line-up. Nestling in the arches are 18- or 19-inch alloys and there's a Formula 1-style grey blade in the front bumper, a large intake for the engine and intercooler, those distinctive, chequered flag-like fog lamps and a front grille with a diamond grid pattern.
Moving around the sides, there's little to report other than the skirts, extractor vents behind the front wheels and the bulging arches, so let's get straight to the back of the car. A hallmark of past models of the Megane RS is the centrally-mounted exhaust and the new car is no exception, siting a 'prismatic' finish item in a mammoth diffuser that is said to negate lift at higher speeds. Up top, there's a discreet lip spoiler, complete with body-colour vertical mountings, to generate greater downforce.
Talking of body colours, a new one has joined the fray - Volcanic Orange, which'll sit alongside the car's defining Liquid Yellow paint in the palette. And a final note: look at the logo next to the RS badge on the boot; it's a new emblem for both Renault Sport Racing and Renault Sport Cars, and while it has been seen on the RS17 F1 car, this is its first application on a road-going vehicle.
Interior
Renault doesn't make as much of the interior, but it looks lovely, what with those gorgeous, RS-branded bucket seats up front and a steering wheel with a 12 o'clock marker. Most of the cockpit is charcoal grey, which helps to show up the red top-stitching that proliferates, while there's a choice of 'carbon fibre weave' or Alcantara upholsteries. The Megane RS has an 8.7-inch R-Link 2 touchscreen infotainment system and a bespoke aluminium gear lever and set of pedals, plus the RS button that links to the Sport and Race driving modes, all help to complete the hot hatch's cabin aesthetic.
Mechanicals
Anyway, while the Megane RS looks good inside and out, what matters is how it drives. It might not ever have been the most powerful car in its class, but what the outgoing model had was one of the absolute best performance car chassis in the business. So what about the new one? Interestingly, it's going to have Renault's 4Control set-up. That, in plain-speak, is four-wheel steering. Not everyone is a fan of this technology on the Megane GT, but it remains to be seen if Renault Sport has got the hang of it for the 'proper' fast model. And, like previous RS Meganes, this one is offered with a regular Sport chassis and also a sharper Cup platform, although both employ front and rear hydraulic compression stops, technology derived from the world of motorsport. Renault Sport says they ensure 'chassis efficiency' on all roads for the Cup and 'unprecedented' comfort for the Sport.
Various other technical carry-overs are good news, such as the PerfoHub independent steer axis front suspension, now stiffer than before to accommodate the new RS Megane's geometry, while there's a Torsen limited-slip differential on the Cup, and specific suspension set-ups for both. As previously reported, the Megane RS will be available with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) transmission, the latter featuring paddle shifts and Multi-Change Down technology, to allow you to drop a couple of gears during heavy braking. Driver assist systems, like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot warning and more, will all be fitted.
We've saved the big news until last, though. The Megane RS has an all-new turbocharged direct injection petrol engine that delivers 280hp at 6,000rpm and a robust 390Nm from 2,400- to 5,000rpm. If those don't sound like the most impressive numbers to get from a 2.0-litre that was already making at least 265hp in the old car, that's because it's not a 2.0-litre in the newbie - it's a 1.8. This four-cylinder motor has a redesigned cylinder head, higher-capacity, dual-intake air filters and a twin-scroll turbo, while it can apparently turn in 6.9 litres/100km (41mpg) and CO2 emissions of 155g/km. Big, 355mm front brake discs with Brembo callipers and a Launch Control function round out the tech highlights.
Anything else?
Renault Sport hasn't wasted any time in announcing an even-harder-than-the-Cup Trophy edition of the RS Megane, this beast possessing 300hp and 400Nm, running the Cup chassis and coming with 19-inch wheels as standard. It's the Trophy that will likely take the fight to the uber-hatches of the ilk of the Volkswagen Golf R, Honda Civic Type R and maybe even the Ford Focus RS, and it should be on sale at the tail end of 2018.