Those French are at it again. Beat their very own fastest FWD Nurbergring lap time by 9 secs.
God, I wish we had French cars here!
From Renault...
•A time of 8’08”” has seen Mégane R.S. Trophy – the new limited edition version of Mégane Renault Sport – establish a new benchmark time for a production-specification front-wheel drive car at the Nürburgring’s infamous Nordschleife. This performance beats the attempts of several far more powerful, rear-wheel drive cars.
•Renault Sport -the sport brand of Renault- shows one more time what Renault know-how and enthusiasm mean. Today’s achievement provides further evidence of the technological excellence that goes into the design of Renault models and of how motorsport-proven technical solutions are carried over to production cars, the chief beneficiaries being the brand’s customers.
An exploit that has ‘shortened’ the Nordschleife…
Renault Sport established its first lap record for a front-wheel drive production car at the Nordschleife on June 23, 2008. The time of 8m17s posted that day by Mégane R26.R. demonstrated that a showroom-specification front-wheel drive car could beat many models produced by some elite specialist brands and tuners. On June 17, 2011, it was the turn of Mégane R.S. Trophy – a new limited-edition version of Mégane R.S. – to beat the time by 9 seconds, a lap record that has stood for three years in the firm grasp of its predecessor.
Today’s lap time is the fruit of an increase in power output to 265hp, along with careful set-up work and a tyre choice optimised by Renault Sport engineers. This limited edition version reveals the exceptional performance potential of Mégane R.S.
The latest achievement speaks volumes for Renault’s ability to dial the expertise and experience it has forged in motorsport – including Formula 1 – into its production cars. Indeed, Mégane R.S. Trophy has benefited directly from all the domains in which Renault Sport excels, from design quality and exacting reliability, to painstakingly tuned engines, chassis and brakes.
Supercar performance… for a much wider audience of enthusiasts
The time posted at the Nürburgring puts Mégane R.S. on a par with an extremely prestigious list of supercars. Mégane R.S Trophy provides access to a level of performance which rivals that of exclusive cars with power outputs of up to and beyond 500hp.
From Renault...
Renault unveils an even hotter version of Mégane R.S..
•With a power output of 265hp and peak torque of 360Nm, Mégane R.S. Trophy delivers unrivalled efficiency for its class. A new tyre fitment and an increase in power make the very most of the Cup chassis’ potential, without detracting from the car’s acclaimed versatility and ride comfort.
•A production run of 500 cars is planned, and Mégane R.S. Trophy’s specific styling features put it at the very top of the Mégane R.S. range.
•Order books open on June 20, 2011, and the newcomer will be marketed in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Prices in France will start from €35,500.
Technical evolutions for the existing, exceptional performance package
With maximum power of 265hp (up 15hp), peak torque of 360Nm (+20Nm) available across a particularly broad rev-band (3,000 to 5,000rpm), a power-to-weight ratio of 5.09kg/hp and specific power of 132.5hp/litre, the car boasts an exceptional performance package. Even so, Renault Sport’s engineers have worked hard on the specification of the Mégane R.S.’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine to take driving enjoyment and response to even higher levels. Maximum turbo pressure has been uprated to 2.5 bar (up 0.2 bar), while the air intake design has been revised to take the higher pressure and higher running temperatures into account.
Performance has been enhanced in the process, and the result is a 0-to-100kph time of just 6.0s (down 0.1s), a top speed of 254kph (up 4kph) and the 1,000m standing start in 25.4s (down 0.3s). Beyond these statistics, however, the experience of driving Mégane R.S. Trophy is a constant source of enjoyment and satisfying sensations. In addition to the finely-tuned set-up of the Cup chassis and the standard limited slip differential, a new tyre fitment contributes to the car’s exceptional road-holding on dry roads, especially through tighter turns, as well as in the wet. The design of the Formula 1-inspired Bridgestone Potenza RE050A’s asymmetric, directional tread pattern and the form of its tread blocks provide outstanding grip, stability and acoustic comfort, whatever the conditions. Last but not least, Mégane R.S. Trophy’s fuel-efficiency has been carefully optimised to return combined-cycle fuel consumption of just 8.2 litres/100km, equivalent to 190g of CO2/km, which represents a saving of 0.2 litres/100km and 5g/km over Mégane R.S. at the time of the latter’s launch.
Assertive yet seductive R.S. styling cues
Mégane R.S. Trophy is recognisable at a glance thanks to its black roof, specific decals, new rear lip spoiler, 19-inch Gloss Black STEEV wheels with red piping and R.S. valve caps (optional or standard, depending on market) and numbered plaque. The LED daytime running lights also play a part in its striking looks. Mégane R.S. Trophy marks the introduction of a new Sirius Yellow finish, an emblematic metallic paint that will be particularly appreciated by Renault Sport fans. This specific body colour is available as an alternative to Glacier White, Etoilé Black and Cassiopée Grey.
Inside, the Recaro bucket seats (fabric or leather, depending on market) add to the cabin’s unmistakably sporty feel, as does the central display which shows the data provided by the R.S. Monitor. This innovative onboard data-logging system records performance and displays a range of mechanical parameters in real-time, a feature which owners will especially appreciate during track days, an exercise to which the Mégane R.S. Trophy lends itself particularly well. Indeed, the car will be on show at the Renault Sport Day which forms part of the Renault Sport Enthusiasts Day programme at the Nürburgring, Germany, on June 17, 2011.
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-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
