Photo: JE Design
Yesterday, French carmaker Renault announced its brand new and seriously impressive Megane RS 275 Trophy-R has managed to lap the Nurburgring in a record-breaking 7 minutes 54.36 seconds.
The previous record belong to SEAT and their new Leon Cupra. Not surprisingly they're not too happy about what's happened. Speaking to Auto Express, the chassis development manager for the hot Leon, Sven Schawe said the following: "Yes Renault have the record, but it's a very different type of car to ours. If we removed parts from our car, it's only four seconds, I'm confident we could beat it."
Indeed, Renault has somewhat cheated to get a lap speed four seconds faster than their rival's. The Trophy-R is about 100 kilograms lighter than the 275 Trophy because it has no rear seats, lighter front seats and no radio. In addition, only 250 will be made, which makes its "production car" record up for debate.
SEAT on the other hand had a few aids aides of its own from an optional track pack with better tires, light 19-inch wheels, side skirts and Brembo brakes. But Schawe says the company is ready to go even more extreme with a lightened track car of its own.
"We already have a car like this," the official said, revealing that it would continue to be front-wheel drive. Adding AWD would make the Leon heavier and more expensive, not to mention it would result in overlap with VW's Golf R.
The competition with Renault could result in some of the fastest 2-wheel drive track cars ever. But SEAT's chassis expert says approval for the new car has not yet been given: "Now we need to decide if we want to continue this competition with Renault."
Our say: Taking the rear seats and the radio out of a hot hatch is like removing the icing on a cake and replacing it with cardboard. If you want to pay extra for a Renault Megane that's as fast as a sportscar, why not buy an actual sportscar?
Indeed, Renault has somewhat cheated to get a lap speed four seconds faster than their rival's. The Trophy-R is about 100 kilograms lighter than the 275 Trophy because it has no rear seats, lighter front seats and no radio. In addition, only 250 will be made, which makes its "production car" record up for debate.
SEAT on the other hand had a few aids aides of its own from an optional track pack with better tires, light 19-inch wheels, side skirts and Brembo brakes. But Schawe says the company is ready to go even more extreme with a lightened track car of its own.
"We already have a car like this," the official said, revealing that it would continue to be front-wheel drive. Adding AWD would make the Leon heavier and more expensive, not to mention it would result in overlap with VW's Golf R.
The competition with Renault could result in some of the fastest 2-wheel drive track cars ever. But SEAT's chassis expert says approval for the new car has not yet been given: "Now we need to decide if we want to continue this competition with Renault."
Our say: Taking the rear seats and the radio out of a hot hatch is like removing the icing on a cake and replacing it with cardboard. If you want to pay extra for a Renault Megane that's as fast as a sportscar, why not buy an actual sportscar?
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