An appetizer. That's what I can call this short contact I had on the track with the new Renault Mégane R.S. 280 EDC. Fernando Gomes, a few months ago, was entitled to a complete meal, those with 7 courses: he spent two days behind the wheel of the Renault Mégane R.S. with sport chassis and chassis cup, in Jerez.
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The video and first impressions of another copy that we had at our disposal at the Estoril Circuit, the new Alpine A110, remain for very short.
Returning to the Estoril Circuit, in an event apart from the Renault Passion Days, is becoming a tradition – I still remember my first time at the wheel of the previous generation Renault Mégane R.S at this circuit.
Around five thousand people will pass through here, in the two days of the Renault Passion Days 2018, of which more than 1300 will be able to test the new Renault Mégane R.S on the Circuit.
Brief contact
The last generation of Mégane R.S. was a reference. The simplicity, the analogue feel and the challenge of pushing it to the limit, made it an object of desire among many petrolheads.
In the new Renault Mégane RS, in place of the 2.0 liter turbo petrol engine we find a 1.8 liter petrol turbo with 280 hp and 380 Nm of torque, just 5 hp more than in the Trophy version of the previous Megane RS The new Renault Mégane RS fulfills sprint from 0-100 km/h in 5.8 seconds, top speed is 250 km/h, electronically limited.
It is the first R.S. with a 4Control system, that is, 4 directional wheels and the first Renault Mégane R.S. with a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox – purists, rest assured, the manual gearbox is still available.
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Unfortunately, it is also the first Renault Mégane R.S. with digitally enhanced engine sound inside . The new model also lost the 3-door bodywork.
After 3 laps of the Estoril Circuit at the wheel of the Megane RS with Sport chassis and EDC gearbox, I got the feeling that the new Renault Megane RS is faster and more efficient than the previous generation. It doesn't surprise me, it was to be expected that it would.
Goodbye sounding?
The sound is part of the driving experience, especially in these proposals. I missed the sound of the previous block (the digitized sound doesn't convince me…). The new Renault Mégane R.S. is also easier to drive on the edge, more civilized.
The suspension is excellent, the chassis tuning superb, keeping the R.S. tradition and there is even a cup version, which we have tested in Spain and promises more efficiency on the circuit.
Is it better than the Hyundai i30 N or Honda Civic Type R? We have to wait for the full test to get everything out in the open.
The new Renault Mégane R.S. is available for sale to the public from tomorrow, Monday, May 28, 2018. Prices start at €38,750 (manual box) and €40,480 (EDC box) . Later, the Renault Mégane R.S. with Cup chassis and manual gearbox will be available.
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