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Feann Torr30 May 2015
REVIEW

ABDC: Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R

The world's fastest hot hatch is a shoe-in for the title of Australia’s Best Driver’s Car… Isn’t it?

Australia's Best Driver's Car
Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R

The wildest Renault Sport vehicle on sale Down Under was a no-brainer for the inaugural Australia's Best Driver's Car. With a 201kW turbo engine, Ohlins dampers, epoxy springs, Recaro seats, bigger brakes, and a titanium exhaust, it means business. But it's what's left out that's just as important, and it makes the car feel like few others on this test.

Required reading:
Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R: Road test
Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R: Local launch
Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R: International launch

When road test editor Matt Brogan was putting Australia's Best Driver's Car (ABDC) together, and I glanced at the car list, I was stoked to see the Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy in there. But it wasn't until all 15 cars were lined up in Port Melbourne about board the Spirit of Tasmania that I realised the car in question was not the rare RS 275 Trophy, but the ultra-rare Trophy-R.

I almost choked on my chico roll as my colleagues glanced at me, doubled over and coughing uncontrollably, tears of salty cabbage-scented joy rolling down my cheeks.

Only a few dozen of these cars have been imported to Australia. A smidge over 100kg lighter than the donor car , they feature an overhauled suspension rig, special exhaust system, stripped-out interior, and more… or should that be less… Simply put, the Trophy-R is the black ops Megane RS.

You see, this was the vehicle deemed too hard core for journalists to drive at the international launch at the Nurburgring where it cut sick with a 7:54 lap, currently the FWD lap record. Yep it's banzai quick.

Of the 250 race-ready Trophy-R cars built in France, 50 have come to Australia, and it's truly next-level stuff. Granted, its 201kW/360Nm turbo four-pot engine can't match the Jaguar F-TYPE R or Nissan GT-R in a straight line, but it generates mega corner speeds and is absolutely engaging.

In the dry the Renault felt terrific in all three dynamic respects; acceleration, cornering and braking. The fitment of adjustable Ohlins dampers all round and epoxy composite front springs firms up the ride considerably but dramatically improves the relationship between all the wheels and the road. Grip? Kung fu-like.

But more importantly for this test, the seat of the pants feel was undeniably positive. Simply put, it's one of the most engaging hot hatches you can wedge yourself into.

I totally agree with motoring.com.au colleague Chris Fincham who described the car as "quick, neutral and balanced in corners" and though most test drivers concurred it was a fairly noisy car (Renault Sport has ditched the factory sound deadening material as well as the rear seats), it didn't diminish the thrill of dialling in more mumbo to punch out of corners.

V8 Supercar driver Luke Youlden agreed it felt "very purposeful in every respect" but criticised the ergonomics, particularly the raised height of the polycarbonate Recaro bucket seats, which incidentally save 42kg. His words? "Not enough adjustment available".

Youlden also noted the tyres were "obviously suited to dry conditions"-- the semi-slick Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres less than ideal until warmed up. But hey, it's race car cool, right?

At the sodden Baskerville racetrack local legend Greg Crick said the car had great feel, great steering and strong brakes, the latter thanks to larger 350mm discs and high-spec Brembo calipers.

When the rain turned to snow, I drove the car and had to agree with Crick: the racy Renault was incredibly communicative and enticingly fast. The way it scythed through corners was almost pre-cognitive. As you're eyes triangulated the corner exit, the car seemed to be in sync with driver's mind and body, the direct steering uniting with the uprated suspension to deliver clear feedback – a godsend on the twisting, turning, drenched roads.

For the most part the Renault would telegraph when it was about to lose traction or slip wide in the skatey conditions, which allowed for its grip limits to be tested.

Fitted with Allevard composite epoxy front springs (a production car world-first) and manually adjustable Ohlins dampers at all four corners, the Trophy-R exhibited very little body roll but wasn't so stiff that mid-corner bumps disturbed its rhythm. The only thing that ruined the fun was standing water, which on the 19-inch Michelin tyres resulted in almost instanteous loss of traction.

The updated suspension goes a long way to making the Trophy-R a bonafide contender in this competition and although it suffered at times due to the extreme nature of the tyres, it's an absolute weapon in the dry that stirs the soul like few other hot hatches can.

Even at it’s hefty $61,990 pricetag, I love that it's entirely impractical as a mode of transport, that it's noisy and inflexible, that it lacks a stereo, rear seats and sound insulation. Loud, stiff, raw and uncompromising, this car is not recommended for your arthritic uncle.

There's something memorable about gracelessly clambering into the ludicrously-bolstered bucket seats and flogging the bejesus out of it on great roads. It delivers a visceral experience like few others can and it's this sense of occasion that really appealed to me.

And that's what, overall scores aside, makes the Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R one of my favourite driver's cars.

2015 Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R pricing and specifications:
Price: $61,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Output: 201kW/360Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 7.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 174g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

What we liked:

Not so much:
>> Responsive chassis >> Seating position
>> Steering feedback >> Tyres not great in wet
>> Strong engine punch >> They're all sold out

Performance (measured)
0-60km/h: 3.6sec
0-100km/h: 6.7sec
0-400m: 14.61sec at 166.7km/h
Average consumption on test: 10.2L/100km

ABDC ranking: Tenth

ABDC Scorecard

Handling 4.6
Ride 3.8
Engine 4.2
Transmission 4.1
Steering 4.4
Braking 4.4
NVH 2.8
Ergos 3.2
Overall score 3.94

More photos of the Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R

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