Let me say from the start, the bright yellow seat belt clashed with every shirt I wore during my short time with the Megane Renault Sport 250 Trophee. And this from the country – France – that sees itself as the arbiter of haute couture in the world.
The tachometer stood out from the other instruments with a yellow face and there was standout yellow stitching on the leather-bound gearshift and steering wheel, the latter including a hoop marking top dead centre. Why yellow? Why the randomness? It must be a Gallic thing. However, performance of the new sports coupe measured up to what we have come to expect from the French automobile giant, one of the foremost powertrain providers on the planet.
POWERTRAIN
The new Megane Renault Sport 250 comes in two versions – the Cup and the Cup Trophee – both powered by a new generation 2-litre 16-valve turbocharged petrol engine pumping out 184 kW of power at 50000rpm and top torque of 340 Nm from upwards of 3000 revs. Power is put to ground via a six-speed manual transmission. A high performance ‘Cup’ chassis which incorporates a limited-slip differential makes sure the best attributes of the motor are passed on to the road to give an exciting driving experience.
But there’s more. Renault Sport Dynamic Management aims to add even more enjoyment for the driving enthusiast. This divides the Electronic Stability programme into three modes, each selectable by the driver. ‘On’ is the default mode in which the ESP is working full-on; ‘Sport’ makes the system less intrusive; while ‘Off’ completely disengages the aid, leaving the driver completely to his or her own devices.
INTERIOR DESIGN
The connection with the world of motor sport extends to the cabin interior with the Renault Sport Monitor Display providing the driver with information about engine performance at any time, a gear-change advisory, and 0-60 mph (it is European). Drilled aluminium pedals are perfectly positioned for fast heel/toe footwork by a driver (in the Cup Trophee variant) supported in black leather Recaro front seats. The Trophee also adds multimedia connection with aux input and USB function. As well as the aforementioned ‘yellow bits’, the Cup Trophee displays modern carbon effect on the dashboard and includes a tyre pressure monitor.
BODY STYLE
Sleek and sporty just about sums up everything about the Megane Renault Sport 250 Cup Trophee. From the black deep set radiator grille flanked by daytime running lights to the steeply raked windscreen and curved roof the car says ‘catch me’. A wide C-pillar and raked rear window do present a sizable blind spot and extensive use of the exterior mirrors is called upon when overtaking, a regular occasion with such an outstanding performer. Sight lines from the rear – a common angle for other road users – converge mid-bumper, the focus being a single, fat, chrome tipped trapezoidal exhaust and diffuser. The Cup Trophee rides on 19-inch Steev alloy wheels with stand-out red Brembo brakes. 18-inch AX-I alloys are optional.
SAFETY
Active and passive safety features in the Cup Trophee are what we have come to expect in any modern vehicle. ABS anti-skid brakes include Electronic Brake force Distribution; there’s Traction Control and sports-tuned three-mode Electronic Stability Programme for those who want to experience the full feeling of sports car driving. Passive safety is taken care of by three-point front seatbelts with pre-tensioner and load limiter, three-point rear belts, plus front lateral and curtain airbags.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
As expected, the three-door syndrome affects getting in and out of the Megane Renault Sport 250. While the side doors are wide enough, entry into the rear seats means a great deal of bending and twisting. Not the easiest movements. When in the back, leg room is in short supply. Even entry for the driver and front seat passenger has its difficulties. It is a matter of awkwardly climbing into and not so much onto the deeply contoured Recaro front seats. Snug and laterally supportive, they are made for those of average build; for others with greater girth, maybe not so comfortable.
The test Cup Trophee, rolling on 19-in wheels wrapped in low profile tyres, picked out every blemish in the bitumen. On the plus side, road grip was second to none and snappy steering – 1.43 turns lock to lock – had the car relishing fast bends, even those with a late surprise or two. Time constraints and a total absence of racetrack time did not allow for a full appreciation of the three-mode switchable Electronic Stability Programme. The pocket rocket did not like being held back in heavy traffic. It begged to be set free. When it was, it did so with a suitably wild animal-style engine snarl. With all its minor faults, the Renault Sport 250 Cup Trophee is what it is – a driver’s car whose delight can be shared with three passengers prepared to put up with a certain lack of space.
MODEL RANGE AND PRICING*
Megane RS 250 2.0 litre petrol MT Cup $41,990
Megane RS 250 2.0 litre petrol MT Cup Trophee $46,990
(*Pricing does not include dealer or government charges)
SPECIFICATIONS (Megane Renault Sport 250 Cup Trophee 2-litre three-door hatch)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1998cc
Configuration: Four-cylinder turbocharged
Head Design: Four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 8.6:1
Maximum Power: 184 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque: 340 Nm @ 3000 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Transmission: Six-speed manual with limited-slip differential
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4299 mm
Wheelbase: 2636 mm
Width: 1848 mm
Height: 1435 mm
Turning Circle: 10.95 metres
Gross vehicle weight: 1835 kg
Boot capacity: 377 litres
Fuel Tank Capacity: 60 litres
Towing Ability: N/A
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Suspension; Cup chassis with limited-slip diff
Front Brakes: Ventilated discs (340 mm), four piston calipers
Rear Brakes: Solid discs (290 mm)
ABS anti-skid with electronic brake force distribution, traction control.
Three-mode sports tuned Electronic Stability Programme
WHEELS/TYRES
Wheels: Alloy, 8.25 J 19
Tyres: 235/35 ZR 19
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 6.1 seconds
Top speed: 245 km/h
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Petrol 98RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/02): 8.7 L/100km
CO2 Emissions: 201 g/km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 6/10
Air Pollution Rating: 7.5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/100,000 km
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