Photo: Renault
In the world of compact hot hatchbacks, the current king of the hill is Renault's manic RS 275 Trophy-R. You might remember that this special edition of the already fast Megane RS managed to set the new front-wheel drive track record on the infamous Nurburgring. It did in in a mind-bending 7 minutes and 54.36 seconds, but that sort of performance comes with deep pockets.
The Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R commands a quite exaggerated base price of €45,000 in France, translating to £36,055 or $61,478 at current exchange rates. For that sort of dough you can get a mildly kitted BMW 5 Series or 4 Series Convertible, for crying out loud, and those come with slippin' and slidin' rear-wheel drive, a more appealing badge, more seats and added luxury.
But as opposed to the slightly sedate and comfortable Bimmers, the Megane RS 275 Trophy-R is a wild ferocious animal aimed at a few special kind of spirited drivers that also love to drop by their local circuits every two weekends or so. According to the manufacturer, the R sheds 101 kilograms (223 pounds) over the 'usual' RS 275 Trophy and comes with a suite of track-focused paraphernalia.
Limited to just 250 units, the ultimate Renault Megane is equipped with the bone-shaking Cup chassis, a limited-slip diff, Ohlins Road&Track performance dampers, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber, Recaro Pole Position carbon fiber monocoque bucket seats, a loud as hell titanium Akrapovic exhaust system and the centerpiece of the vehicle's sporting credentials - the 2.0-liter mill producing no less than 271 horsepower.
If that isn't enough to rock your boat, Renault offers an optional 'Record Kit' that includes steel and aluminum brake discs, six-point harness with jet fighter-inspired buckles and a lightweight lithium-ion car battery that cuts a whopping 16 kilograms over a normal lead-acid. Compared to the Trophy, the R features a couple of new aesthetic bits and bobs, the highlight being its racy Etoile Black and Pearlescent White exterior paint job.
Follow this link to watch the Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R's blistering 7:54:36 record Nurburgring run.
But as opposed to the slightly sedate and comfortable Bimmers, the Megane RS 275 Trophy-R is a wild ferocious animal aimed at a few special kind of spirited drivers that also love to drop by their local circuits every two weekends or so. According to the manufacturer, the R sheds 101 kilograms (223 pounds) over the 'usual' RS 275 Trophy and comes with a suite of track-focused paraphernalia.
Limited to just 250 units, the ultimate Renault Megane is equipped with the bone-shaking Cup chassis, a limited-slip diff, Ohlins Road&Track performance dampers, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber, Recaro Pole Position carbon fiber monocoque bucket seats, a loud as hell titanium Akrapovic exhaust system and the centerpiece of the vehicle's sporting credentials - the 2.0-liter mill producing no less than 271 horsepower.
If that isn't enough to rock your boat, Renault offers an optional 'Record Kit' that includes steel and aluminum brake discs, six-point harness with jet fighter-inspired buckles and a lightweight lithium-ion car battery that cuts a whopping 16 kilograms over a normal lead-acid. Compared to the Trophy, the R features a couple of new aesthetic bits and bobs, the highlight being its racy Etoile Black and Pearlescent White exterior paint job.
Follow this link to watch the Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R's blistering 7:54:36 record Nurburgring run.
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