CANBERRA: Storming Renault Megane RS275 Trophy-R lands in Australia. Renault’s latest record-setting hyper hatch is now available in Australia, priced from $61,990. Based on the $52,990 Megane RS275 which arrived in local showrooms last month, the Trophy-R Ring king is lighter and faster, but no more powerful than the car it’s based on. Built as a track special, the Trophy-R is the fastest front-drive production car ever to lap Germany’s infamous Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit with a 7:54.36 lap time – beating the previous record set by a Seat Leon Cupra by around four seconds.
The dampers to match the car’s the on-track aspirations and its super-sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Tyres – the The already-stiff Cup chassis has also been fiddled with, gaining a rear strut brace and retuned springs same tread used by the Porsche 918 Spyder hyper car.The new Megane RS275 Trophy-R is limited to just 250 units worldwide, 50 of which are destined for our shores – the second largest allocation out of the 15 countries which will receive the Renault road-racer. Using the same 201kW/360Nm 2.0-litre turbo four-pot (codenamed F4RT) and Akrapovic exhaust system as the standard RS275, the Trophy R can hit 100km/h in 5.8 seconds – two tenths quicker than before.
However, because Renault has thrown away the rear seats and swapped the front pews for ultra lightweight Recaro polycarbonate buckets which save 42kg, this road-racer is 92kg lighter than the car it’s based on. All Australian delivered Megane Trophy-Rs also come fitted as standard with the Nurburgring Accessory Kit, which is said to be worth over $5000.The kit includes a lithium-ion battery which saves a further 15kg, lightweight steel and aluminium brake discs and six-point harness belts. Visually, the Trophy-R is differentiated from lesser Meganes with striking 19-inch red alloys, matched to red side decals. The only paint colour available is Pearl white with contrasting Diamond Black roof.
