Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy

More power, poise for new big daddy Megane RS

- Matt Prior

IS THIS SOON? It feels soon. The Renault Megane RS only arrived in September and yet here, already, is the Trophy version – generally the go-to variant of RS models for those who like their hot hatches flaming.

New to the Renault Megane RS Trophy is more power, and more ‘stuff’. Output from the 1.8 turbo petrol is 220kW, up 15kW over the regular RS, and if you spec the dual-clutch gearbox, torque is up from 390Nm to 420Nm. Spec the standard six-speed manual and torque is limited to 400Nm because that’s all the gearbox can handle.

Throttle response is quicker either way, owing to the adoption of a ceramic turbo bearing, while there is a freer-breathing exhaust that has an active flap in it, which Renault says offers ‘two tones’. With it shut it’s ‘easy on the ears’ and with it open ‘the full sporty potential can be expressed’. In other words, quiet or loud.

There are 19-inch wheels whose design is inspired by the RS01 concept car (very cool too), shod with Bridgestone Potenza S001 tyres, and there will be the upcoming option of S007s, as soon as they’re homologated, which are better for dry use and on a circuit. You can spec a lighter wheel too, which mightn’t look as good but saves 2kg a corner. All of this stuff is Trophy-specific.

You get the Cup chassis as standard, which brings a series of nice, round numbers – 25 per cent stiffer dampers, 30 per cent stiffer springs and 10 per cent stiffer anti-roll bars – as well as a Torsen limited-slip diff and bi-material front brake discs, which are 1.8kg a corner lighter than the regular RS’s.