“Guilherme, this weekend are we going to photograph the Trophy?”. “No Maccario, let's not go” — I replied to Gonçalo Maccario even before he continued to speak. “This weekend will be just for two”.
I grabbed half a dozen pieces of clothing, put aside some money for fuel, and set off towards Serra da Arrábida, my final destination being my beloved Alentejo.
As you know, the new generation of Mégane has already come out and it is only a matter of time before the R.S. (in the images) puts in the papers for the reform. Faced with this, we had to dance a “last tango”.
Why? Because the Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy is in my opinion (and except in a better opinion…) the most visceral, transcendent and apotheotic FWD I've ever driven.
And look, I've driven practically all of them. I'm just missing the new Type R.
Not to be unfair with the SEAT Leon CUPRA 280 or the Golf R, I say this forgetting the dimensions of habitability, the practical side, the equipment, etc. Or to put it another way: when it comes to pure driving sensations, the R.S. Trophy is the «king of the block». It might not even be the fastest. But in sensations it is.
Below 50 000 euros it is practically impossible to find a model capable of making us sweat as much in our jersey as the R.S. Trophy does.
There may even be other models that are more fun and accessible to drive (as there are), but the only one that effectively challenges our senses and makes us grip the wheel as if tomorrow depended on it — and it really does... — is this one.
For all that, I couldn't let him go without leading him one more time. The photos are a disgrace because they were taken with a mobile phone with the resolution of a “potato”.
I left home a little late but arrived in Arrábida rather early (Megane has this gift…).
With Serra da Arrábida full of people and cyclists, I briefly turned off the «race» mode on the RS button (on the left side of the steering wheel) and decided to lose my breath with the landscapes, not the braking. Safety above all.
Furthermore, with the escape in «normal» mode, I felt that I was no longer interfering with the mating rituals of cicadas and other insects that populate this beautiful nature reserve.
As a joke, I just scared a couple of lovers standing on the side of the road with a rater festival. And I didn't even charge a ticket. Who is a friend who is it?
Arriving in Setúbal I stopped for a coffee (€0.60) and to restock the Mégane (€60…). I waited for the night and the cold to make Serra da Arrábida desert. It was time for… you know. Braaaaaap, fsssiiuuuu!
Let's go to sensations! Knowing in advance that I won't say anything new, the Cup chassis of the Mégane R.S. Trophy is simply divine.
Take the courage to explore it and it responds in an almost telepathic way.
Öhlins suspensions and Brembo brakes are simply tireless and go together perfectly with the whole package. Best partner for a burnt rubber tango and apex kisses? It's difficult.
The speed that the R.S. Trophy takes into the curves almost defies the laws of physics.
“To fill these wrinkles, Renault Sport ( a hello to you guys! ) equipped the Trophy with a fantastic Akrapovic exhaust system.”
You know that wait time that we make in the transitions right and left (or vice versa) waiting for the rebalancing of the masses to put the car back on the intended trajectory? At Mégane R.S. Trophy there is no need to wait. It's thinking and executing! Just like that. No more and no less. In between we hold our breath but that is part of the experience.
In this equation of overwhelming performances, I must say that after having tried other 2.0 Turbo petrol engines, the only element that begins to show the weight of the years in this set is really the engine.
The 275 hp comes and leaves but the engine has too short a rev range and the gear suffers for it — too low a gear interferes with the balance of the car in support (it gets too stuck) and a higher gear punishes us on exiting the corner (the engine pulls out of the ideal rotation zone).
To fill these creases, Renault Sport (thanks to you guys!) has equipped the Trophy with a fantastic exhaust system from Akrapovič. When the exhaust manifold heats up there are raters for all tastes (except for those who don't…).
I'll miss you(!!!) from the disapproving looks of some people when this yellow Mégane arrives at a traffic light!
Future
Speaking of the future now. As you know, I was at the international presentation of the new Mégane that took place in Portugal. I took the opportunity to ask the development team for the new Renault Mégane, how the next R.S. is going to be, but they closed in on hearts — you can find some rumors here.
In any case, the Renault Sport team will have to work hard to surpass this generation: magnificent chassis, manual gearbox, «black leg» suspensions, mechanical differential, fantastic steering . Renault Sport, don't make it easy p-o-r f-a-v-o-r!
As for me, I survive the temptation to buy an R.S., new or used, whatever. At 30 years old, I still have the bones and heart to withstand the daily contact with this machine — which, while not being comfortable, isn't as uncomfortable either.
The problem is consumption, above 15 l/100km at fast paces and somewhere between 8 or 9l/100 km at normal paces. I can't give you a concrete number because I've always succumbed to the temptation of “ok, just more curves!”. Don't take this the wrong way, but it was a farewell…
If you have one, congratulations. I hate you.
Uma foto publicada por Razão Automóvel (@razaoautomovel) a