Meet the Renault Mégane Renaultsport 265
Renault has an unparalleled pedigree in hot hatches of more than 35 years.
This began in 1976 when, with the first Volkswagen Golf GTi still a year away from launch, the company re-wrote the performance small car rule book forever with the 5 Gordini.
Mégane Renaultsport 265 features a two-litre, turbo-charged engine generating 265hp at 5,500rpm and 360Nm of torque at 3,000rpm. Developed from the unit that appeared in the R26.R, the F4Rt engine has been extensively developed with more than 25 per cent of its parts being new.
Feeding through a new PK4 six-speed gearbox, the Mégane Renaultsport 250 accelerates 0-62mph in just 6.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 158 mph – improved by 0.1 seconds and 2 mph respectively.
Renaultsport has developed the exterior to provide a unique, purposeful look with changes aimed to improve aerodynamic performance. Extended wheel arches and side sills cover the 18” or 19” wheels whilst an F1-inspired aerodynamic package including front blade, rear air diffuser and additional rear spoiler.
The result is Renault’s fastest road car yet, cutting the 0-62mph time to six seconds dead and a top speed raised by 2 mph to 158 mph. Its exceptional speed and handling were ably demonstrated in June 2011 when it smashed the lap record for front wheel drive production cars at the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit, setting a new benchmark of 8 minutes and 8 seconds.
Unique in its class, the Renaultsport Dynamic Management is a three-stage ESC (Electronic Stability Control) which allows the performance to be enjoyed in safety on road and on track. Another unique-in-class feature is the Renaultsport Monitor, an onboard telemetry system.
Bespoke Renaultsport seats are fitted and Recaro seats are available as an option. The fascia features analogue instruments, in contrast to the rest of the Mégane range which uses digital displays.