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UPDATE: Renault Megane RS Trophy-R Sets Nurburgring Lap Record, Civic Type R Out

YouTube's premiere feature, which allows content creators to prep the audience for the launch of a fresh clip, was the path chosen by Renault Sport to introduce the new Megane RS Trophy-R. The French carmaker took to the said medium to let it slip that the newcomer, whose specs have yet to be listed, has broken the Nurburgring FWD lap record.
Renault Megane RS Trophy-R Sets Nurburgring FWD Record 6 photos
Photo: Renault Sport/YouTube
Renault Megane RS Trophy R Sets Nurburgring FWD Lap RecordRenault Megane RS Trophy R Sets Nurburgring FWD Lap RecordRenault Megane RS Trophy R Sets Nurburgring FWD Lap RecordRenault Megane RS Trophy R Sets Nurburgring FWD Lap RecordRenault Megane RS Trophy R Sets Nurburgring FWD Lap Record
The official video, which should showcase the full onboard lap, will land in two hours from now and you'll find an update at the bottom of the page. Meanwhile, we've brought along a second clip - coming from a Ring spotter, this shows the RS Trophy-R test car having its way with the infamous German circuit.

Of course, the official clip will also reveal the lap time delivered by the hot hatch - so far, we've only received the teaser image above.

However, we already know what to expect, since the time to beat comes from the Honda Civic Type R, which managed to blitz the Green Hell in 7 minutes and 43.8 seconds.

Meanwhile, we're also waiting for Renault Sport to release the details of the Megane RS Trophy-R. That extra letter at the end of the badge means will bring spicy updates to an already hot machine and, for one thing, we can expect an extreme diet, one that will probably include a rear seat delete, among others.

Keep in mind that the Megane RS Trophy is animated by a 300 hp 1.8-liter turbo-four, which delivers 420 Nm (310 lb-ft) when matted to the optional dual-clutch transmission, or 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) when working with the six-speed manual.

The list of tech goodies featured on the current car already involves a Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential, four-wheel steering and beefy stopping hardware.

The Show Might Go On

Then again, Honda was recently spotted testing an updated version of the Civic Type R at the Ring, so perhaps the Japanese carmaker will fight back.

Update: The new FWD King of the Ring needs 7:40.10 to lap the circuit. As you'll notice in the full video of the lap, the 4 Control all-wheel steering works wonders in terms of eliminating understeer.

However, the driver does seem to have trouble with a shift at a certain point - perhaps addressing this and throwing in even more uber-determination could bring the Megane RS Trophy-R below the 7:40 mark.

As for the specs of the track special, the French carmaker has only partially revealed these: as expected, the 300 hp and 400 Nm of twist were maintained, while the lighter manual gearbox was the obvious choice.

The vehicle was put on a hefty diet, losing 130 kilos (287 lbs), but no details were offered, while the carmaker did mention "reworked aerodynamics and a more radical development of its drive axles,"

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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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