Renault powers-up Megane RS

Renault’s limited-edition Nurburgring ace has been re-named and becomes part of the regular Megane RS range.

Although it’s now called the Megane RS 275 Cup Premium, the luxe-sounding new variant actually keeps everything offered by last year’s 100-unit Megane RS 275 Trophy special including its $52,990 price tag.

Beyond the existing Megane RS 265 Cup that remains entry to the small Renault Sport performance range (and this month rises by $1K to $43,990) the RS 275 Cup Premium adds: leather and Alcantara-trimmed Recaro sports seats, Alcantara-clad steering wheel and handbrake, Zamac alloy gear knob, Akrapovic titanium centre exhaust and 19-inch Speedline Turini alloys wheels with Bridgestone Potenza RE050 A tyres.

Pick the Cup Premium from the Cup by those black alloys along with a grey lower lip. The lighter exhaust and alloys team with an aluminium lower wishbone in the front suspension to shave 35kg from the kerb weight, now 1376kg.

You can also pick the Cup Premium from the old Trophy limited edition by its lack of side stickers but expanded colour palette beyond the liquid yellow and pearlescent white paint, which are bizarrely now available only with an optional sunroof.

As the digits on the badging suggests, a 10hp difference takes the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine from 195kW (265hp) to 201kW (275hp) in the pricier model, though 360Nm and a 6.0sec 0-100km/h claim are shared.

Sadly, the Ohlins dampers (20-way front/30-way rear manually adjustable) and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber that were each optional overseas aren’t available on our RS 275 Cup Premium just as they weren’t on the RS 275 Trophy last year.

Sad, because that’s the bulk of the performance gear pinched from the two-seat Megane RS 275 Trophy-R that became the fastest front-driver around the ‘Ring with a 7min 54.36sec time.

Just as Renault extended its five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty to Renault Sport products last year (which previously had three-year cover), the French brand is now extending its zero per cent finance offer to all RS-badged cars.

The deal is open nationwide until September 31 and means you can pick up a base Megane RS 265 Cup for $44,000 drive away or $142 per week, or a Clio RS Sport from $30,000 drive away or $97 per week.

Decent deals, we reckon, though in the case of the Clio, the one enthusiasts will be hanging out for is the limited edition Clio RS 220 Trophy that arrives locally early next year with a 20hp power jump, firmer suspension and (critically) 50 per cent faster shifts from the six-speed dual clutcher.